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BOOKS  BY  ABRAM  ENGLISH  BROWN 


FOOTPRINTS  OF   THE  PATRIOTS 
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"Tell  it  Again,  Grandpa!"     Frontispiece 


Beneath  Old  Roof  Trees 


BY 

ABRAM  ENGLISH  BROWN 

AUTHOR   OF   "history   OF   BEDFORD"    "BEDFORD      OLD      FAMILIES* 

"  GLIMPSES   OF   OLD   NEW   ENGLAND    LIFE  "    AND 

"  FLAG   OF   THE   MINUTB-MEN  " 


BOSTON 
LEE  AND  SHEPARD  PUBLISHERS 

lO    MILK     STREET 
1896 


Copyright,  1896,  by  Lee  and  Shepard 


All  rights  reserved 


Beneath  Old  Roof  Trees 


TYPOGRAPHY   BY   C.    J.    PKTKRS   &   SON,    BOSTON. 
FRBSSWORK   BY   ROCKWELL  &  CHURCHILL. 


TO 

THE    SOCIETIES    ORGANIZED    TO    PERPETUATE    THE 

HONOR  OF  THE    BRAVE   MEN   AND  WOMEN, 

THROUGH   WHOSE    SACRIFICES 

THE  AMERICAN    COLONIES    OBTAINED  THEIR   FREEDOM, 

STfjis  Folutne 
is  gratefully  inscribed 

The  Author 


957384 


PREFATORY   NOTES 

"WHAT    DID    THEY    HAVE    TO    DO    WITH    IT?" 

While  speaking  on  the  battlefield  at  Lexing- 
ton with  tourists  from  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
allusion  was  incidentally  made  to  other  towns 
than  those  usually  mentioned  in  this  connection  ; 
whereupon  I  was  at  once  politely  met  with  the 
honest  inquiry,  "  What  did  they  have  to  do  with 
it  ?  " 

My  object  in  this  volume  is  to  answer  that 
question,  showing  in  a  story-like  manner  the  part 
taken  by  many  towns  in  the  opening  events  of  the 
Revolution. 

In  offering  this  work  to  the  public,  I  desire  to 
acknowledge  gratefully  the  sources  from  which 
aid  has  been  obtained ;  but  they  have  been  so 
numerous  that  I  refrain  from  mentioning  any 
published  works,  lest  I  may  inadvertently  omit 
some. 

Manuscript  records  of  towns  and  churches  have 
been  freely  consulted  through  the  courtesy  of 
their  custodians  to  whom  I  am  indebted.  The 
many  interviews  with  venerable  men  and  women 
herein  recorded  have  been  to  me  occasions  of 
great  pleasure,  and  I  trust  will  result  in  lasting 
benefit  to  all  who  peruse  these  pages. 


VI 11  PREFATORY  NOTES 

This  volume  being  one  of  a  prospective  series, 
"  Footprints  Of  the  Patriots,"  treats  of  only  a  small 
portion  of  the  towns  identified  with  the  opening 
Revolution. 

It  is  my  purpose  to  consider  the  other  towns  as 
they  appear  in  the  widening  circle  from  which 
came  the  ready  response  to  the  memorable  alarm. 

If  the  reader  shall  be  aroused  to  a  keener  ap- 
preciation of  the  cost  of  our  national  heritage, 
and  to  a  higher  standard  of  citizenship  beneath 
its  star-spangled  emblem,  the  work  will  not  have 
been  in  vain. 

With  that  hope  for  an  impelling  motive  in  the 
future  as  it  has  been  in  the  past,  I  remain  the 
friend  of  the  reader. 

ABRAM    ENGLISH    BROWN. 


"  'Tis  like  a  dream  when  one  awakes. 
This  vision  of  the  scenes  of  old ; 
'Tis  like  the  moon  when  morning  breaks; 
'Tis  like  a  tale  round  watchfires  told." 


•'  Surely  that  people  is  happy  to  whom  the  noblest  story 
in  history  has  come  down  through  father  and  mother,  and  by 
the  unbroken  traditions  of  their  own  firesides." — Senator 
George  F.  Hoar,  Oration  at  Plymouth,  December,  1895. 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  I. —  page 

Some  of  the  General  Facts  of  the  Opening  Revolution  .  I 

Chapter  II.  — 

A  Glance  at  the  Enemy's  Route 8 

Some  Leading  Steps lO 

Marshfield  Tories I2 

Salem  might  have  been   the  Concord  of   History     .      .  12 

A  Billerica  Teamster       . 14 

Activity  of  Friend  and  Foe 16 

Chapter  III,  — 

Important  Messages 19 

Parsonage  Guests 21 

Midnight  Messengers 21 

Echoes  of  the  Lexington  Belfry 23 

Chapter  IV.  — 

Belfry  Echoes,  continued 28 

John  Parker's  Story 28 

Joshua  Simonds's  Story 32 

Chapter  V.  — 

More  Belfry  Echoes 37 

Boston  Poor 42 

Chapter  VI.  — 

Theodore  Parker 45 

A  Belfry  Listener 45 

Chapter  VII.  — 

The  Parson  and  Parsonage 52 

Burlington  or  Precinct  Parsonage 56 

Guests  of  April   19,   1775 56 

Amos  Wyman  Home 59 

Reed  Home , 61 

ix 


X  CONTENTS 

Chapter  VIII.  —  page 

Diary  of  Rev.  John  Marrett 62 

Description  of  Camp  by  Rev.   William  Emerson      .      .        73 

Origin  of  Continental    Army 74 

Journal  of  Jabez  Fitch 75 

Chapter  IX. — 

Old  Manse  of  Concord  and  its  Ministerial  Occupants  .        79 
Cupid  in  the  Revolution 90 

Chapter  X. — 

Told  and  Retold 102 

Incidents  of  Concord  Fight 102 

Chapter  XI.  — 

Concord  Homes  of  History  in   1775 II3 

Chapter  XII.  — 

A  Concord  Patriot's  Secret 122 

Chapter  XIII.  — 

Footprints  of  Acton  Patriots    .     .     .     .• 139 

Faulkner  Residence ' 140 

Chapter  XIV.  — 

Speech  of  Rev.  James  T.   Woodbury 149 

Eagle  in  Concord  Fight 167 

Chapter  XV.  — 

Footprints  of  the  Patriots  at  Bedford 171 

Through    the   Old    Burial-Ground    of    Bedford    with    a 

Nonagenarian 181 

Chapter  XVI.  — 

The  Old  Colonial  Banner,  and  Flag  of  the  Minute-Men 

of  Bedford 195 

Chapter  XVII.— 

Cupid's  Heirloom 204 

Chapter  XVIII.  — 

Story  of  Lincoln  Patriots 214 

Capture  of  Paul  Revere 215 

The  Most  Deadly  Fight 220 

Brave  Women 225 


CONTENTS  Xi 

Chapter  XXVIII.  —  Continued.  page 

Burial  of  the  King's  Soldiers 226 

New    England    Ancestors    of    President    James    Abrain 

Garfield 227 

Chapter  XIX.— 

Billerica  Patriots 236 

Hill  Homestead 238 

Provision  for  the  Army 240 

Mrs.  Abbott's  Story 244 

Chapter  XX.  — 

The  Story  of  Menotomy 247 

The  Russell  Family  Store 250 

Story  of  Whittemore  Family 262 

Cambridge 264 

Chapter  XXI.  — 

General  Artemas  Ward 275 

The  Old  Homestead 290 

Chapter  XXII.— 

Groton  Patriots 293 

The  First  Ride  of  Paul  Revere,  and  its  Consequences  .  293 

James  Sullivan 297 

Groton  Inn 298 

Rev.  Samuel  Dana 299 

Charlestown's  Distress 300 

Story  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler 309 

Chapter  XXIII.— 

Woburn's  Part 312 

The  Thompson  Family 313 

Colonel  Loammi  Baldwin 319 

The  Winn  Home 324 

A  Romance  of  War 325 

General  Gage's  Excursion  Reported  in   1775.      .     .      .  337 

List  of  Killed  and  Wounded  April  19,  1775     ....  340 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


"Tell  it  Again,  Grandpa" Frontispiece 

Territory  covered  in  the  Volume   (^Map)      .      .      .     to  face  page  i 

Somerville  Powder-House lo 

Salem  Bridge i8 

Lexington  Parsonage.     Home  of  Rev.  Jonas  Clarke       .     .  20 

Eli  Simonds 24 

Lexington  Belfry 25 

Buckman  Tavern,  Lexington 29 

Jonathan  Harrington  House,  Lexington 31 

Lexington  Battle  Monument 37 

Certificate  carried  by  Boston's  Poor  into  the  Country    .     .  43 

Munroe  House,  Lexington 46 

Birthplace  of  Theodore  Parker,  Lexington 47 

Precinct  Parsonage.     Sewall  Home,  Burlington     ....  56 

Site  of  Home  of  Amos  Wyman,  Billerica 57 

Parsonage  Table,   Burlington 58 

Forest  Path  taken  by  Hancock  and  Adams,  April  19,  1775,  59 

Parsonage  Clock,   Burlington 60 

Old  Manse,  Concord 79 

Window  of  Old  Manse,  Concord 89 

Merriam's  Corner,  Concord 98 

Old  Parish  Meeting-House  and  Wright  Tavern,  Concord    .  104 

Hunt  Home,  Concord 108 

British  Officer's  Sword,  Concord 112 

Graves  of  British   Soldiers,  Concord 112 

Elisha  Jones  House,  Concord 112 

Barrett  Home,  Concord 115 

Buttrick  Home,  Concord 119 

Ebenezer  Hubbard,  Concord 123 

Hubbard  Home,  Concord 129 

Statue  of  Minute  Man,  Concord 136 

xii 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTKATIOiXS  XUl 

Battle  Monument,  Concord to  face  page  138 

Faulkner  Residence,  Acton 140 

Luke  Smith,  Acton 144 

Acton  Powder  Horn 146 

Acton  Monument 165 

Eagle  of  Concord  Fight 168 

The  Old  Oak  in  Bedford 171 

Page  Home,  Bedford 172 

Cyrus  Page,  Bedford 173 

Fitch  Tavern,  Bedford 174 

Eleazer  Davis  Home,  Bedford 178 

Home  of  John  Reed,  Bedford 180 

Tombstone  of  Calley  Fasset,  Bedford 184 

Tombstone  of  Captain  Jonathan  Willson,  Bedford     .     .     .  194 

Flag  of  Minute  Men,  Bedford 196 

Continental  Money 209 

Farrar  Homestead,  Lincoln 216 

Whitman  House,  Lincoln 220 

Samuel  Farrar,   Lincoln 223 

Burial  of  British  Soldiers,  Lincoln 226 

Monument  Over  British  Dead,  Lincoln 227 

Abraham  Garfield  Tombstone,  Lincoln 228 

Garfield  Homestead,  Lincoln 233 

Garfield  Footstone,  Lincoln 234 

Hill  Homestead,  Billerica 238 

Susan  (Jaquith)  Abbott 245 

Russell  House,  Menotomy 248 

Russell  Store,  Menotomy 249 

Attack  by  the  Exempts,   Menotomy 253 

Mrs.  Sophronia  Russell,  Arlington 259 

Mrs.  Parmelia  Fiske,  Arlington 260 

Ward  Homestead,  Shrewsbury 276 

General  Ward's  Sword 279 

Rocky  Hill  Meeting-House,   Salisbury 288 

Groton  Inn 298 

Benjamin  Thompson  House,  Woburn 312 

Colonel  Baldwin's  Mansion,  Woburn 319 


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BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER  I 

INTRODUCTORY. SOME  OF  THE  GENERAL 

FACTS  OF  THE  OPENING  REVOLUTION 

The  revival  of  interest  in  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
inclines  many  to  long  to  visit  the  scene  of  his 
fatal  conflict.  But  Waterloo,  described  and 
painted  by  pen  and  pencil  over  and  over  again, 
when  viewed  in  connection  with  its  results  to 
the  world,  is  not  comparable  to  the  battlefield  of 
Middlesex.      ' 

Good  citizenship  is  patriotism  in  action.  It  is 
not  necessary  that  one  should  face  the  bullets  of 
the  enemy  on  the  field  of  battle  in  order  to  evince 
true  patriotism.  He  who  loves  his  home,  his 
native  town,  and  his  country,  and  is  ready  to 
make  sacrifice  for  their  honor  and  welfare,  is  the 
good  citizen.  In  him  the  germ  of  patriotism  is 
well  developed. 

This  is  seen  in  the  great  company  of  intelligent 
people  who  make  pilgrimages  every  year  to  Lex- 

I 


2  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

ington,  Concord,  Bunker  Hill,  and  other  places  of 
historic  interest.  Each  recurring  anniversary 
emphasizes  the  fact.  No  true  citizen  can  cross 
the  green  sward  of  Lexington  Common,  gaze 
upon  the  bronze  "  Minute-man  "  at  Concord,  or 
press  the  turf  of  Bunker's  height,  without  feeling 
the  blood  course  more  rapidly  in  his  veins  as  he 
makes  new  resolutions  of  better  citizenship. 


We  find  nothing  of  a  sanguinary  character  of 
the  scenes  that  were  enacted  on  the  memorable 
19th  of  April,  1775  ;  for  the  war-drums  throb  no 
longer,  and  the  battle-flags  are  furled.  The  bay- 
onets of  the  red-coated  soldiers  glisten  no  more 
ominously  in  the  gray  dawn  of  the  breaking  day, 
and  the  musket  of  the  yeoman  hangs  useless 
among  the  reminders  of  the  past.  But  within 
easy  access  of  New  England's  metropolis  are 
many  existing  reminders  of  that  most  significant 
uprising,  and  the  person  for  whom  a  recital  of  the 
"oft-told  tale"  of  the  battlefield  would  prove 
tedious  will  find  enough  of  interest  in  the  sto'  v 
of  things  and  places  that  existed  when  the  wild 
crash  of  musketry  broke  the  stillness  of  that 
April  dawn. 

While  the  scene  of  carnage  was  at  Lexington 
and  Concord,  and  on  the  entire  line  of  retreat,  it 
was  from  all  Middlesex  that  the  yeoman  soldiery 
came ;  and  the  entire  Province  was  in  arms  befc  -"e 


SOME   OF  THE    GENERAL   FACTS  3 

nightfall,  and  all  New  England  was  astir  before 
another  sunset.  I  would  not  abate  one  "jot  or 
tittle"  from  the  accumulated  honor  justly  due 
Lexington  or  Concord,  but  I  would  remind  all 
young  people  that  the  only  limit  to  the  response 
was  the  primitive  means  of  spreading  the  alarm. 
A  preconcerted  signal  was  so  general  that  it  re- 
quired but  "a  hurry  of  hoofs  in  a  village  street," 
or  the  crack  of  a  musket  from  a  chamber-loft,  to 
carry  on  the  alarm  from  town  to  town.  When 
the  immortal  scroll  of  that  day  was  made  up,  there 
appeared  upon  it  forty-nine  names.  These  were 
from  seventeen  different  towns,  ten  of  which  were 
in  Middlesex,  four  in  Essex,  and  three  in  Norfolk 
Counties.  But  more  than  twice  this  number  of 
towns  responded  to  the  alarm  before  the  enemy 
were  back  within  protection  of  their  ships  of 
war. 

It  is  natural  that  the  tourist  should  find  his 
interest  centre  at  Lexington  and  Concord ;  but 
if  he  would  trace  the  footprints  of  the  patriots,  he 
must  follow  them  in  the  dew  of  that  early  morn- 
ing from  their  remote  homes  to  the  scene  of  con- 
flict, and  in  the  evening  by  the  blood  of  the 
martyrs,  who,  early  slain,  were  borne  lifeless  to 
their  homes. 

<The  general  uprising  of  the  colonies  on  the 
19th  of  April,  1775,  was  the  natural  outcome  of 
the  treatment  to  which  they  had  been  subjected. 
They  had  always  claimed  the  liberties  of  English- 


4  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

men,  acting  upon  the  principle  that  the  people 
are  the  fountain  of  political  power,  and  that  there 
can  be  no  just  taxation  without  representation. 
Every  act  of  the  British  ministry  tending  to 
undermine  these  principles  served  but  to  whet 
the  blade  of  righteous  indignation.  The  acts  of 
Parliament  "  for  the  better  regulating  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay," 
and  "  for  the  more  impartial  administration  of 
justice,"  were  regarded  as  blows  aimed  at  the 
liberties  of  the  people,  and,  when  undertaken  to 
be  carried  into  effect  by  the  local  authorities  at 
Boston,  created  a  commotion  throughout  the 
colonies.  The  positive  dealing  with  the  small 
tax  on  tea  was  but  the  outcome  of  a  failure  to 
maintain  their  rights  by  strong  reasoning,  firm 
resolves,  and  eloquent  appeal  for  a  series  of  years. 
It  was  the  boldest  stroke  of  the  people  up  to  that 
time,  and,  although  struck  in  Boston,  received 
a  hearty  approval  from  the  remotest  hamlet, 
through  the  ringing  of  bells  and  other  signs  of 
joy.  The  punishment  intended  for  Boston  by 
the  Port  Bill,  which  took  effect  June  i,  1774,  was 
a  blow  felt  and  resented  at  the  remotest  border. 
Its  execution  devolving  upon  Thomas  Gage 
brought  general  contempt  upon  one  who  had  so 
recently  been  proclaimed  the  governor  with  great 
applause,  and  Fanueil  Hall  had  been  the  scene 
of  animating  festivity  in  his  honor.  From  1767. 
when  the  first   addition  was  made  to  the  troops 


SOME   OF   THE    GENERAL   FACTS  5 

which  commonly  formed  the  garrison  of  Castle 
William,  there  had  been  a  growing  unrest  among 
the  Provincials,  strengthened  by  each  new  arrival 
quartered  within  the  town,  and  becoming  unbear- 
able at  the  massacre  in  King  Street,  on  March  5, 
1770.  Each  anniversary  of  this  event  served  as 
another  occasion  for  declaring  the  charter  rights 
of  the  Province,  and,  although  calling  forth  the 
expression  of  different  sentiments,  was  continued 
until  the  Declaration  of  Independence  cleared  the 
way  for  a  new  anniversary,  and  the  4th  of  July, 
instead  of  the  5th  of  March,  became  the  day  of 
America's  patriotic  expression. 

One  needs  but  refer  to  the  manuscript  records 
of  the  small  towns  of  the  colonies  to  be  duly 
impressed  with  the  approval  of  each  act  of  the 
leaders  in  Boston.  The  record  of  sympathy  ex- 
pressed for  Boston  and  Charlestown  when  the 
Port  Bill  went  into  effect,  the  memoranda  of 
provisions  forwarded  for  the  relief  of  the  dis- 
tressed, together  with  the  solemn  league  and 
covenant  against  the  use  of  British  goods  into 
which  they  entered  and  boldly  spread  upon  their 
records,  attest  the  intensity  of  feeling  which  ce- 
mented the  people  more  closely  together  as  the 
months  of  trial  succeeded  one  another,  all  of 
which  found  civil  expression  in  the  acts  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence,  and  also  in  the 
convention  of  Aug.  30,  1774,  at  Concord,  when 
one  hundred  and  fifty  delegates  from  the  towns 


6  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

of  Middlesex  County  placed  upon  record,  "No 
danger  shall  affright,  no  difficulty  shall  intimidate 
us ;  and  if,  in  support  of  our  rights,  we  are  called 
to  encounter  even  death,  we  are  yet  undaunted, 
sensible  that  he  can  never  die  too  soon  who  lays 
down  his  life  in  support  of  the  laws  and  liberties 
of  his  country." 

Following  close  upon  the  memorable  conven- 
tion of  Middlesex  came  the  Provincial  Congress, 
which  assembled  in  the  meeting-house  of  Con- 
cord, the  hostile  preparations,  the  clash  of  arms, 
and  the  general  uprising  of  the  people. 


One  hundred  and  twenty  years  have  passed 
since  the  embattled  farmers  struck  the  first  blow 
for  liberty,  but  many  reminders  of  that  day  are  yet 
to  be  seen.  Hills  over  which  Revere  galloped  on 
his  midnight  ride  have  been  carried  into  the  val- 
leys through  which  he  made  rapid  pace ;  but  many 
a  hearthstone  that  glowed  with  the  embers  of 
patriotism  is  still  the  pride  of  a  thrifty  owner,  who 
rejoices  that  the  same  roof  which  protects  him 
sheltered  his  grandfather,  who  at  the  same  door 
gave  a  parting  blessing  to  wife  and  children  as  he 
hastened  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  Such  homes, 
possessed  and  cared  for  by  those  who  have  there 
received  the  story  of  personal  experience  from 
honored  sires,  are  monuments  to  which  all  would 
gladly   revert.     These,  and   the   many  other   re- 


SOME   OF  THE   GENERAL  FACTS  / 

minders  of  the  footprints  of  the  patriots,  have 
their  lessons  of  good  citizenship  for  all. 

I  have  spent  much  time,  during  a  score  of 
years  devoted  to  historical  writing,  in  visiting 
such  homes  throughout  New  England,  and  in 
conversation  with  the  widows  of  those  who  had 
personal  experience  in  the  army,  also  with  the 
children  who  have  had  the  story  of  sacrifice  from 
fathers  who  suffered  in  the  field,  camp,  or  hos- 
pital, and  from  mothers  whose  sufferings  were  be- 
neath their  own  roofs.  The  widows  and  children 
of  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  had  become  very 
scarce  when  I  began  my  research ;  but  grand- 
children have  been  often  met  who  received  indel- 
ible impressions  of  the  struggle  of  the  colonists, 
while  fondled  in  the  arms  of  those  who  were 
actors  in  the  Revolution. 

The  result  of  my  research  has  from  time  to 
time  been  given  to  the  public  in  story  through 
the  daily  press.  Realizing  that  such  a  medium, 
in  the  main,  is  as  fleeting  as  the  day,  I  have  been 
prompted  to  gather  my  stories  into  a  more  endur- 
ing form  for  the  benefit  of  the  many  whom  I  now 
ask  to  visit  the  scenes.  Familiarity  entitles  me 
to  invite  the  company  of  all  who  have  entered 
into  the  labors  of  the  patriots  of  '75. 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   II 

A   GLANCE  AT  THE   ENEMY's  ROUTE. SOME  LEAD- 
ING   STEPS.  MARSHFIELD     TORIES. SALEM 

MIGHT     HAVE     BEEN     THE     CONCORD     OF     HIS- 
TORY.  A    BILLERICA    TEAMSTER. ACTIVITY 

OF    FRIEND    AND    FOE 

Boston  is  our  starting-point.  We  make  but  a 
short  journey  into  Middlesex  County,  having  the 
restless  army  of  Gage  in  view  as  they  start  on 
their  "holiday  excursion,"  before  we  are  in  the 
midst  of  the  scenes  that  witnessed  the  flight  of 
the  redcoats,  and  their  steady  pursuit  by  the 
rough-clad  yeomen.  The  very  ground  has  tongues 
to  tell  the  story  of  that  heroic  day.  The  memo- 
rials that  patriotic  hands  have  set  to  mark  the 
deeds  that  were  done  recount  anew  the  romantic 
valor,  the  courage  that  could  not  tire,  and  the 
resolution  that  knew  no  compromise. 

As  we  go  over  that  ground  we  will  listen  again 
to  the  words  of  the  great  patriot  Samuel  Adams, 
spoken  as  the  sun  was  rising  over  the  hills  of 
Lexington  :  "What  a  glorious  morning  for  Amer- 
ica is  this  !"  It  matters  not  whether  this  morn- 
ing's exclamation  was  the  evidence  of  prophetic 


A    GLANCE  AT  THE  ENEMY'S  ROUTE  9 

wisdom  ;  certain  is  it  that  Samuel  Adams  ^  was 
the  great  seer  of  his  time,  and,  having  the  sight, 
he  spared  nothing  to  hasten  the  dawn  of  a  better 
era  for  America.  Tardy,  indeed,  is  the  gratitude 
of  a  great  nation  shown  by  the  failure  to  appro- 
priately mark  his  resting-place  in  Granary  Burial 
Ground  in  Boston,  where  in  like  obscurity  rests 
his  honored  associate,  John  Hancock.^  In  pass- 
ing we  will  not  fail  to  commend  the  people  of 
Lexington,  who  have  provided  the  horizontal  slab, 
in  the  form  of  a  shield,  which  tells  us  where  Han- 
cock and  Adams  were  when  the  attack  was  made 
upon  the  Lexington  company.  Every  child  is 
familiar  with  the  story  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 
He  knows  — 

"  How  the  British  regulars  fired  and  fled; 
How  the  farmers  gave  them  ball  for  ball 
From  behind  each  fence  and  farmyard  wall, 
Chasing  the  redcoats  down  the  lane, 
Then  crossing  the  fields  to  emerge  again 
Under  the  trees  at  the  turn  of  the  road, 
And  only  pausing  to  fire  and  load." 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  recount  the  events  of 
the  opening  Revolution  familiar  to  the  most  care- 
less student  of  history;  but  I  deem  it  advisable  to 
give  a  brief  outline  of  facts,  in  order  to  show  their 

^  One  wrote  of  Samuel  Adams  in  1773,  "All  good  men  should 
erect  a  statue  to  him  in  their  hearts." 

2  Since  writing  the  above,  the  foundation  has  been  laid  for 
a  State  monument  over  the  tomb  of  Hancock. 


lO  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

bearing  upon  the  acts  of  other  towns  than  those 
commonly  mentioned. 

The  uprising,  so  general  throughout  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  in  the  adjoining 
country,  was  the  result  of  months  of  agitation. 
During  this  time  the  best  preparations  possible 
were  made,  although  a  hostile  army  was  in  pos- 
session of  the  leading  seaport,  and  Tories  on  either 
hand  were  using  every  possible  means  to  inform 
the  king's  agent  of  the  movements  of  his  "  rebel- 
lious subjects."  Their  own  domestic  cares  were 
greatly  increased  by  the  support  of  the  poor  of 
Boston,  who  were  forced  to  leave  their  homes,  and 
flee  to  the  country.  Meetings  for  consultation 
were  frequently  held,  although  forbidden  by  the 
waning  power  of  the  governor.  They  withdrew 
their  stock  of  powder,  etc.,  from  the  Quarry  Hill 
Magazine  at  Charlestown ;  put  in  trim  their  old 
muskets  with  which  they  served  the  king  before 
Louisburg  ;  whetted  the  bayonets  that  had  pierced 
the  hearts  of  French  and  Indians  ;  moulded  their 
tableware  into  bullets ;  and  listened  at  their  rude 
altars  for  the  God-given  message  delivered  to  them 
by  patriotic  pastors. 

Each  and  all  of  these  movements  were  quickly 
communicated  to  General  Gage  by  their  ene- 
mies at  their  own  doors.  The  general  stock 
of  powder  for  the  use  of  the  Province  was  left 
in  the  powder-house  ;  and  this  was  removed  by 
order    of    General    Gage,   at    the    instigation   of 


SOME  LEADING  STEPS  II 

William  Brattle  of  Cambridge,  and  lodged  at 
Castle  William. 

Believing  that  the  guns  which  they  had  manned 
for  the  king  were  liable  to  be  turned  on  them,  they 
did  not  hesitate  to  appropriate  them  to  their  pro- 
tection. The  old  battery  at  Charlestown,  where 
the  Navy  Yard  now  is,  was  dismantled  in  sight 
of  the  ships  of  war  which  lay  opposite;  and  the 
guns  were  removed  by  the  patriots,  and  carried 
into  the  country,  despite  the  vigilance  of  the  Brit- 
ish officers.  But  the  object  of  the  patriots  was 
not  to  overturn,  but  to  preserve.  They  claimed 
their  ancient  rights  and  liberties,  regarding  ease, 
luxury,  and  competency  as  nothing,  so  long  as  the 
rights  enjoyed  by  their  ancestors  were  denied  to 
them. 

Each  town  had  its  militia,  an  organization  of 
long  standing,  and  its  minute-men,  organized  by 
order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  on  Oct.  26, 
1774,  which  was  an  outcome  of  the  General  Court 
ordered  to  convene  at  Salem  by  Governor  Gage. 
They  cheerfully  paid  their  taxes  over  to  one  of 
their  own  number,  who  had  been  made  Province 
treasurer,  —  Henry  Gardner  of  Stow.  Each  town 
voted  money  freely  to  arm,  equip,  and  discipline 
"Alarm  Lists  Companies."  The  leading  citizens 
were  made  the  officers  of  the  companies;  and  mili- 
tary drill  on  the  towns'  common  or  training-field 
was  frequently  supplemented  by  adjournment  to 
the  meeting-house,  where  religious  services  were 


12  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

held.  They  were  exhorted  by  their  ministers  to 
prepare  to  fight  bravely  for  God  and  their  country. 

The  patriots  were  aware  of  the  injury  to  their 
cause  by  the  Loyalists,  but  they  saw  them  make 
no  successful  attempt  at  organization  until  Gen- 
eral Timothy  Ruggles  of  Marshfield  headed  one. 
He  was  a  great  leader  of  the  Loyalists,  or  Tories 
as  they  were  derisively  called.  Their  requirements 
were  that  all  who  joined  it  should  at  the  risk  of 
their  lives  oppose  all  acts  of  constitutional  assem- 
blies, such  as  committees  and  congresses.  This 
Marshfield  association  had  the  protection  of  the 
king's  troops  under  Captain  Balfour. 

An  exultant  Tory  letter  of  the  time  says  of 
them:  "The  king's  troops  are  very  comfortably 
accommodated,  and  preserve  the  most  exact  disci- 
pline;  and  now  every  faithful  subject  to  his  king 
dares  freely  utter  his  thoughts,  drink  his  tea,  and 
kill  his  sheep  as  profusely  as  he  pleases." 

It  was  during  these  midwinter  days  of  anxiety 
and  expectancy  throughout  the  towns  that  Salem 
just  escaped  the  beginning  of  hostilities,  and  the 
honor  of  being  the  Lexington  of  the  Revolution. 
Some  brass  cannon  and  gun-carriages  were  de- 
posited there,  and  Colonel  Leslie  made  a  Sabbath- 
day  excursion  to  seize  them.  Knowing  the  habits 
of  the  New  England  people  for  church  atten- 
dance, he  landed  at  Marblehead,  and  in  the 
afternoon  of  Feb.  26,  while  the  people  were  at 
meeting,  started  for  Salem.     His  object  was  sus- 


THE   CONCORD   OF  HISTORY  1 3 

pected,  and  a  messenger  despatched  to  the  neigh- 
boring town.  The  desired  materials  were  on  the 
north  side  of  Old  North  Bridge.  This  was  built 
with  a  draw  for  the  passing  of  vessels ;  and  before 
Colonel  Leslie  reached  there,  the  people  had  it 
raised.  His  order  to  lower  it  was  refused,  and 
their  action  sustained  by  the  statement,  "  It  is  a 
private  way,  and  you  have  no  authority  to  demand 
a  passage  this  way."  The  officer  then  made  prep- 
arations to  cross  the  river  in  two  large  gondolas 
that  lay  near.  But  their  owners  made  good  their 
objections  by  scuttling  them.  A  few  of  the  sol- 
diers tried  to  prevent  this ;  and  in  the  scuffle  which 
attended  it  bayonets  were  used,  and  it  is  recorded 
that  blood  was  spilt.  At  this  juncture  a  clergy- 
man of  Salem,  Rev.  Mr.  Barnard,  interfered;  and 
a  compromise  was  effected,  whereby  the  troops 
retired  without  having  accomplished  their  pur- 
pose. In  fact,  they  had  injured  their  general 
cause ;  for  the  movement  had  aroused  the  people 
to  the  point  of  action  not  before  reached.  The 
alarm  got  to  Danvers  in  time  for  the  minute-men 
of  that  town  to  rally  and  march  to  Salem,  arriv- 
ing just  as  the  British  were  leaving  town. 

The  rhymester  of  the  day  noticed  this  expedi- 
tion. After  the  description  of  the  arrival  at  Mar- 
blehead  is  the  following  :  — 

"Through  Salem  straight,  without  delay, 
The  bold  battalion  took  its  way; 
Marched  o'er  a  bridge,  in  open  sight 
Of  several  Yankees  armed  for  fight; 


14  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

Then,  without  loss  of  time  or  men, 
Veered  round  for  Boston  back  again, 
And  found  so  well  their  projects  thrive. 
That  every  soul  got  home  alive." 

The  people  of  the  country  were  in  sympathy 
with  those  in  the  larger  towns.  Boston  was  their 
guide.  They  watched  the  movements  of  the  pa- 
triots there  with  great  interest.  The  sentiments 
of  the  Massacre  anniversary  orators  were  freely 
indorsed  in  all  the  towns  where  patriotism  pre- 
vailed. When  one  of  their  own  number  suffered 
violence  they  were  ready  to  demand  redress. 

Early  in  March  of  1774,  Thomas  Ditson,  Jr.,  a 
citizen  of  Billerica,  of  thirty-four  years  of  age, 
being  in  Boston,  was  seized  by  the  British  troops 
on  the  pretence  that  he  was  urging  a  soldier  to 
desert ;  without  any  examination  kept  a  prisoner 
until  the  following  day,  when  he  was  stripped, 
tarred  and  feathered,  and  dragged  through  the 
principal  streets  on  a  truck,  attended  by  soldiers 
of  the  Forty-seventh  Regiment,  under  command 
of  Colonel  Nesbit,  to  the  music  of  "  Yankee 
Doodle,"  the  original  words  of  which,  it  is  said, 
were  then  first  used.  This  outrage  produced 
great  indignation ;  and  the  selectmen  of  Boston 
communicated  by  letter  the  case  to  the  selectmen 
of  Billerica,  who  presented  a  remonstrance  to 
General  Gage,  and  submitted  the  case  to  a  town 
meeting.  The  town  thanked  the  Boston  authori- 
ties "for  the  wise  and  prudent  measures"   they 


A   BILLEKICA    TEAMSTER  1 5 

had  taken,  expressed  its  dissatisfaction  with  the 
reply  of  General  Gage,  and  instructed  them  to 
carry  the  case  to  the  Provincial  Congress.  The 
man  lived,  and  by  his  presence  in  Billerica  and 
neighboring  towns  did  more  to  the  injury  of  the 
cause  of  the  king  than  he  could  have  done  by 
inducing  a  whole  company  to  desert.  The  indig- 
nation of  the  voters  of  Billerica  is  doubtless  im- 
plied in  an  order  "  to  look  up  the  old  Bayonets," 
which  was  passed  at  a  town  meeting  held  soon 
after  Mr.  Ditson's  abuse. 

To  prevent  the  troops  in  Boston  from  being 
supplied  with  materials  for  hostile  operations,  the 
town  also  voted  not  to  permit  any  team  "to  Load 
in,  or  after  loaded,  to  pass  through,  the  Town,  with 
Timber,  Boards,  Spars,  Pickets,  Tent-poles,  Can- 
vas, Brick,  Iron,  Waggons,  Carts,  Carriages,  In- 
trenching Tools,  Oats,"  etc.,  without  satisfactory 
certificate  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence. 

General  Gage  knew  that  despite  all  his  vigi- 
lance the  patriots  were  gathering  military  stores, 
and  their  repositories  were  the  objects  of  his 
jealous  eye.  A  rumor  was  abroad  that  he  had 
determined  to  destroy  them  ;  this  led  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  to  establish  a  guard,  and  to  arrange 
for  teams  to  remove  the  stores  to  places  of  greater 
safety,  in  case  of  alarm.  To  make  the  arrange- 
ments more  perfect  and  effective,  couriers  were 
engaged  in  Charlestown,  Cambridge,  and  Roxbury 
to  alarm   the  people.     What    better  plans    could 


1 6  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

have  been  made  for  each  town  to  have  some  part 
in  the  decisive  action,  let  it  come  in  the  full 
light  of  day,  or  under  cover  of  the  darkest  shadow 
of  night  ? 

Officers  of  the  king's  army  were  sent  out  to 
Concord  and  elsewhere  to  spy  out  the  situation, 
make  plans  of  the  roads,  etc.  They  were  well 
disguised,  but  detected  and  watched,  and  the 
people  made  doubly  vigilant.^  On  the  30th  of 
March,  eleven  hundred  men  were  sent  out 
through  Jamaica  Plain  with  an  eye  to  intimidate 
the  citizens ;  but  they  saw  an  uprising  people 
well  armed,  and  returned  without  important  inci- 
dent, only  such  acts  of  damage  as  any  company 
long  pent  up  in  a  town  would  naturally  commit 
when  passing  through  an  enemy's  territory. 

The  month  of  April  opened  with  intelligence 
that  re-enforcements  for  the  king's  army  were 
on  the  way  to  Boston.  Together  with  this  news 
came  that  of  the  declaration  of  Parliament  to  the 
king,  that  the  opposition  to  legislative  authority 
in  Massachusetts  constituted  rebellion,  and  also 
the  answer  of  his  Majesty  to  Parliament,  that 
"the  most  speedy  and  effective  means"  should 
be  taken  to  put  the  rebellion  down. 

Not  only  did  the  king's  messenger  require 
haste,  but  that  of  the  Provincial  Congress  as  well. 

^  The  account  of  the  detection  of  the  British  spy,  John  Howe, 
together  with  his  journal,  will  be  found  in  the  second  volume  of 
this  series. 


ACTIVITY  OF  FRIEND  AND  FOE  1/ 

On  the  5th  the  Congress  adopted  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  establishment  of  an  army  ;  on 
the  7th  it  sent  a  circular  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  "most  earnestly  recommending" 
to  see  to  it  that  "the  militia  and  minute-men" 
be  found  in  the  best  condition  for  defence  when- 
ever any  exigency  might  require  their  aid,  but, 
at  whatever  expense  of  patience  and  forbearance, 
to  act  only  on  the  defensive ;  on  the  8th  it  took 
effectual  measures  to  raise  an  army,  and  to  send 
delegates  to  Rhode  Island,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Connecticut  to  request  their  co-operation  ;  on  the 
13th  it  voted  to  raise  six  companies  of  artillery, 
pay  them,  and  keep  them  constantly  in  exercise  ; 
on  the  14th  it  advised  the  removal  of  the 
citizens  of  Boston  into  the  country ;  on  the 
15th  it  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 
Having  done  all  in  their  power,  they  seemed 
anxious  to  again  commit  their  cause  to  the 
Almighty. 

The  days  which  intervened  between  the  ad- 
journment of  Congress  and  the  beginning  of  hos- 
tilities were  spent  in  busy  preparations  for  the 
inevitable.  The  Committees  of  Safety  and  Sup- 
plies usually  met  together,  and  were  in  session 
at  Concord  on  the  17th,  when  they  adjourned 
to  meet  at  Menotomy. 

While  the  Provincials  were  thus  active,  General 
Gage  was  making  exertion  to  secure  supplies  for 
camp  service ;  but  the  patriots  made  every  pos- 


i8 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 


sible  exertion  to  prevent  it,  both  in  Massachusetts 
and  New  York. 

Worried  by  the  importunities  of  the  Tories, 
and  distressed  by  the  energetic  measures  of  the 
Whigs,  who  "unknown  to  the  Constitution  were 
wresting  from  him  the  public  monies,  and  collect- 
ing war-like  stores,"  it  is  not  strange  that  he 
decided  upon  the  action  of  the  night  of  April 
1 8. 


IMPORTANT  MESSAGES  1 9 


CHAPTER    III 

IMPORTANT      MESSAGES.  PARSONAGE      GUESTS.  

MIDNIGHT      MESSENGERS.  ECHOES     OF      THE 

LEXINGTON    BELFRY 

A  MOVEMENT  of  Gagc's  on  the  15th  looked 
suspicious  to  Dr.  Warren,  who  sent  out  a  messen- 
ger to  Hancock  and  Adams,  then  at  Lexington. 
It  was  this  intelligence  that  prompted  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  of  which  John  Hancock  was 
chairman,  to  take  additional  measures  for  the  se- 
curity of  the  stores  at  Concord,  and  to  order,  on 
the  17th,  cannon  to  be  secreted,  and  a  part  of 
the  stores  to  be  removed  to  Sudbury  and  Groton. 
On  the  1 8th  (Tuesday)  Gage's  officers  were  sta- 
tioned on  the  roads  leading  out  of  Boston,  to 
prevent  intelligence  of  his  intended  expedition 
th^t  night.  These  officers  dined  at  Cambridge. 
The  patriot  committees  also  met  that  day  in 
Menotomy  —  West  Cambridge  (Arlington).  Some 
of  the  Committee  remained  to  pass  the  night  at 
Wetherby's  Tavern.  Devens  and  Weston  started 
in  a  chaise  towards  Charlestown,  but  soon  meet- 
ing a  number  of  British  officers  on  horseback, 
returned    to    warn    their    friends   at    the   tavern. 


20  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

They  waited  there  till  the  officers  passed,  and 
then  rode  to  Charlestown.-^ 

Mr.  Gerry  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  anx- 
ious as  were  they  all  for  the  safety  of  Hancock 
and  Adams,  sent  an  express  to  them  that  "  eight 
or  nine  officers  were  out,  suspected  of  some  evil 
design."  This  caused  the  precautionary  measures 
so  wisely  adopted  by  the  minute-men  of  Lexing- 
ton, and  prepared  them  for  other  messages  that 
followed  during  the  night. 

Mr.  Gerry's  letter  was  delivered  by  a  messen- 
ger who  took  a  by-path  to  the  Lexington  parson- 
age.    The  reply  is  worthy  of  notice. 

"  Lexington,  April  i8,  1775. 
Dear  Sir,  —  I  am  obliged  for  your  notice.  It  is  said 
the  officers  are  gone  to  Concord,  and  I  will  send  word 
thither.  I  am  full  with  you  that  we  ought  to  be  serious, 
and  I  hope  your  decision  will  be  effectual.  I  intend  doing 
myself  the  pleasure  of  being  with  you  to-morrow.  My  re- 
spects to  the  Committee.     I  am  your  real  friend, 

John  Hancock." 

The  politeness,  culture,  and  despatch  of  the 
opulent  young  merchant  and  patriot  are  apparent 
in  this  hastily  penned  reply.  One  need  not  draw 
much  upon  his  imagination  to  see  the  beautiful 
Dorothy  Quincy  sitting  by  in  the  quiet  solicitude 
of  her  high-bred  dignity. 

1  Jeremiah  Lee,  Elbridge  Gerry,  and  Azor  Orne,  members  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Supplies,  were  Marblehead  men. 
Their  footprints  will  be  more  thoroughly  traced  in  the  story  of 
that  shore  town.     For  Paul  Revere's  first  ride,  see  Chapter  XX. 


PARSONAGE    GUESTS  21 

The  master  of  the  house  and  entertainer  of 
these  noted  guests,  Rev.  Jonas  Clark,  alludes  to 
three  different  messages  received  at  Lexington 
that  evening ;  viz.,  a  verbal  one,  a  written  one 
from  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  the  evening,  and 
between  twelve  and  one  an  express  from  Dr. 
Warren. 

It  is  the  last  message  that  the  poet  has  made 
familiar  to  all.  One  of  the  messages  we  must 
believe  was  brought  by  William  Dawes,  who  went 
out  from  Boston,  through  Roxbury,  at  about  the 
same  time  that  Revere  left  by  the  way  of  Charles- 
town. 

The  intelligence  thus  brought  to  the  guests  at 
the  Lexington  parsonage  was  not  only  for  them, 
but  for  the  whole  country,  and  no  delay  was  made 
in  spreading  the  alarm. 

The  presence  of  British  officers  scouting  about 
the  country  that  spring  was  a  very  common  thing; 
but  the  large  number  on  the  iSth,  and  the  late- 
ness of  the  hour,  led  to  the  conclusion  that  their 
purpose  was  to  return,  under  cover  of  the  night, 
and  capture  Hancock  and  Adams,  whose  offences, 
it  was  said  by  Gage  in  his  proclamation  of  June  12, 
"are  of  too  flagitious  a  nature  to  admit  of  any  other 
consideration  than  that  of  condign  punishment." 

"  As  for  their  king,  that  John  Hancock 
And  Adams,  if  they're  taken, 
Their  heads  for  signs  shall  hang  up  high. 
Upon  the  hill  called  Beacon." 


22  BENEATH   OLD   ROOF   TREES 

This  apprehension  of  the  Lexington  people  had 
brought  together  a  company  of  men  well  armed, 
who  made  up  the  guard  around  Rev.  Mr.  Clark's 
house,  in  command  of  Sergeant  Munroe.  Three 
of  their  number,  Sanderson,  Brown,  and  Loring, 
went  on  towards  Concord  to  ascertain  and  give 
information  of  the  British  officers ;  but  while  in 
the  town  of  Lincoln,  between  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, they  were  captured.  Revere  and  Dawes, 
after  refreshment,  started  on  towards  Concord, 
not  knowing  the  fate  of  those  who  had  preceded 
them.  They  were  soon  joined  by  Dr.  Prescott  of 
Concord,  who  was  returning  to  his  home  after 
spending  the  evening  with  Miss  Mullikin,  at  her 
home  in  Lexington.  He  was  an  earnest  patriot, 
and  entered  heartily  into  the  plans  of  his  chance 
friends.  Before  coming  to  Concord  line  they 
were  met  by  the  same  British  officers,  armed 
and  equipped,  who  demanded  their  surrender. 
Prescott,  being  familiar  with  the  roads,  leaped 
a  stone  wall,  escaped,  and  carried  on  the  alarm 
to  his  townsmen.  The  prisoners  were  taken 
back  towards  Lexington,  threatened  and  ques- 
tioned, but  given  their  freedom  when  the  alarm 
bells  of  the  country  towns  so  frightened  the 
British  officers  that  they  made  haste  for  their 
escape. 

With  these  general  facts  plainly  in  mind,  the 
reader  must  be  prepared  to  consider  the  approach 
of  the  invading  army,  their  reception  at  Lexing- 


ECHOES  OE   THE  LEXINGTON-  BELERY       23 

ton  and 'Concord,  and  see  what  the  other  towns 
had  to  do  about  it. 

The  soil  of  Lexington  drank  up  the  first  blood 
shed  in  the  cause  of  freedom  on  that  April  morn- 
ing;  and  Concord  was  the  point  on  which  the 
forces  of  the  colonists  and  of  the  king  were 
focussed  —  the  former  bent  on  protection,  and 
the  latter  on  destruction.  It  was  there  that  the 
first  forcible  resistance  to  British  aggression  was 
made. 

By  reason  of  the  events  of  that  morning  these 
towns  became  famous  throughout  the  world,  and 
pilgrims  have  journeyed  thither  for  more  than  a 
century. 

Historians  have  vied  with  one  another  in  telling 
the  story  of  Lexington  and  Concord,  but  I  prefer 
to  give  it  to  my  readers  as  I  received  it  from  the 
Old  Belfry. 

Facts  of  civil  history  and  domestic  life,  having 
been  introduced  incidentally,  will  not  detract  from 
the  interest  of  the  story. 

"Come  up  into  the  old  belfry,"  said  my  friend 
of  fourscore  years,  as  we  strolled  across  the  beau- 
tiful green  in  the  centre  of  Lexington. 

Uncle  Eli  Simonds  is  well  fitted  to  act  as  guide 
in  this  part  of  historic  Middlesex.  He  is  among 
the  last  of  the  native  born  of  Lexington  who  have 
heard  the  narratives  of  the  early  days  from  the 
lips  of  those  who  participated.  He  has  been  to 
the  place  of  sacrifice,  hand  in  hand  with  those  who 


24 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


were  actors  in  the  opening  scene  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Eli  Simonds  has  not  only  the  advantage 
of  a  birthright  in  the  town  of  Lexington,  but  he 


Eli  Simonds 


came  of  a  long  line  of  ancestry  who  made  a  set- 
tlement there  when  the  territory  was  known  as 
Cambridge  Farms. 

The  house  to  which  he  directed  his  steps,  and 
to  which  every  tourist  to  that  town  makes  his 


The  Old  Belfry,  Lexington.     Page  25 


ECHOES  OF  THE  LEXINGTON  BELFRY       2$ 

wav,  was  the  one  from  which  Uncle  Eli  took  his 
earliest  observations,  —  the  Lexington  belfry. 

To  those  accustomed  to  the  lofty  belfry  of  the 
present  time,  the  rude  structure  at  Lexington, 
somewhat  back  from  the  village  street,  seems 
diminutive,  and  of  itself  presenting  but  little  at- 
traction. While  climbing  to  its  present  situation 
Uncle  Eli  said,  "This  was  erected  on  this  hill  in 
1 761,  removed  to  the  common  in  1767,  and  was 
known  to  our  ancestors  as  the  *  bell  free.'  In  it 
was  hung  the  bell  provided  through  the  generosity 
of  Mr.  Isaac  Stone. 

"  It  sounded  the  alarm  over  the  hills  and  through 
the  vales  on  the  memorable  morning  of  April  19, 
1775  ;  and  it  served  the  people  in  joy  and  sorrow 
in  that  position  until  1794,  when  the  new  meeting- 
house put  forth  a  steeple  of  its  own,  and  the  bell 
was  raised  to  its  loft.  Then  the  belfry  was  sold. 
It  was  so  soon  after  the  battle  waged  about  its 
walls  that  no  one  had  aroused  sentiment  enough 
to  suggest  its  preservation.  In  fact,  the  time  had 
not  yet  come  for  the  erection  of  a  memorial  upon 
the  spot  where  fell  *  the  first  victims  to  the  sword 
of  British  Tyranny  and  Oppression.' 

"  The  martyrs  were  sleeping  in  the  rude  graves 
where  they  were  placed  by  the  stricken  town,  be- 
fore it  was  known  'whether  their  blood  would  fer- 
tilize the  land  of  freedom  or  of  bondage.'  But 
the  fates  had  decreed  that  the  old  belfry  should 
be  preserved,  which  was  accomplished  through  the 


26  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

purchase  of  the  tottering  house  by  John  Parker, 
son  of  the  gallant  captain  of  the  Lexington  min- 
ute-men. 

"  It  was  removed  to  the  Parker  farm,  some  two 
and  a  half  miles  away,  and  there  used  as  a  me- 
chanics' workshop.  It  was  there  that  I  became 
familiar  with  its  stout  frame,  cut  doubtless  from 
the  primeval  forest,  and  made  from  trees  that  may 
have  had  the  blazes  of  the  pioneer's  axe.  Neither 
the  house  nor  barn  on  the  Parker  estate  afforded 
such  general  attractions  as  the  old  belfry  offered 
to  young  and  old." 

It  was  the  workshop  of  a  mechanic,  John 
Parker,  whose  age  exactly  corresponded  with  that 
of  the  shop  in  which  he  plied  his  craft.  In  it  the 
old  soldiers  and  townsmen  gathered  to  while  away 
the  hours  of  their  infirmity;  and  in  some  retired 
nook,  perhaps  perched  upon  the  huge  timber  in 
the  loft  where  once  hung  the  bell,  were  the  boys 
of  the  farm,  Parkers  and  Simondses,  and  their 
youthful  associates,  who  there  gave  heed  to  the 
stories  related  in  their  hearing. 

Not  the  least  thoughtful  of  the  bystanders  in 
the  belfry  workshop  was  Eli  Simonds,  who  has 
long  been  "Uncle  Eli"  of  the  neighborhood,  an 
honored  official  of  the  town.  To  this  mechanic, 
John  Parker,  who  was  well  on  in  his  teens  when 
his  father  was  called  to  arms,  the  rA'cille  of  that 
April  morning  never  got  out  of  those  rafters.  He 
heard  the  clanging  of  the  bell,  saw  his  father  grab 


ECHOES   OF   THE  LEXINGTON  BELFRY       2/ 

his  musket,  and  hastily  leave  the  home  and  family 
in  answer  to  the  midnight  alarm.  The  whole  town 
afforded  no  more  appropriate  place  for  the  soldiers 
to  test  their  memories. 

Captain  John  Parker  died,  Sept.  17,  1775.  He 
was  in  feeble  health  when  at  the  head  of  the  Lex- 
ington minute-men.  He  faced  the  British  regu- 
lars, eight  hundred  strong,  commanded  by  the 
impetuous  Pitcairn.  He  also  marched  with  a  por- 
tion of  his  company  to  Cambridge  on  the  6th  of 
May,  and  with  a  still  larger  detachment  of  them 
on  the  17th  of  June. 

After  the  death  of  the  captain,  the  relations  of 
the  two  families,  Parker  and  Simonds,  were  more 
intimate ;  for  Eli's  grandfather  became  a  joint 
owner,  and  the  two  families  of  children  mingled 
by  a  common  right  at  the  farm. 


28  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


CHAPTER   IV 

BELFRY  ECHOES  CONTINUED. JOHN  PARKER's 

STORY,  JOSHUA  SIMONDS's  STORY 

Not  only  were  the  old  belfry's  rude  walls 
scarred  by  the  bullets  of  the  enemy,  but  its  owner 
of  later  years  was  active  on  that  eventful  morn- 
ing, and  there  rehearsed  what  he  experienced, 
and  what  his  brave  father  suffered,  in  all  the  try- 
ing scenes  of  the  "bloody  butchery." 

Here  Eli  learned  his  own  grandfather's  story  of 
the  capture  of  the  first  prisoner  of  war,  and  of  the 
first  trophy  of  that  day's  victory. 

To  him  and  to  others  of  the  belfry's  listeners, 
it  mattered  not  how  much  great  men  contended 
for  the  honor  of  April  19,  1775,  they  were  con- 
tented with  the  narratives  told,  without  thought 
of  preservation,  and  from  lips  that  paled  before 
the  carnage  about  the  very  house  in  which  they 
loved  to  linger,  and  which  the  sentiments  of  their 
later  descendants  have  prompted  them  to  return 
to  its  proper  place. 

JOHN  Parker's  story. 

At  two  o'clock,  my  father  (Captain  John  Par- 
ker) ordered  the  roll  of  his  company  to  be  called, 


JOHN  PARKER'S  STORY  2$ 

and  gave  orders  for  each  man  to  load  his  gun 
with  powder  and  ball.  After  being  some  time  on 
parade,  one  of  the  messengers,  who  had  been  sent 
towards  Boston,  returned,  reporting  no  evidence 
of  the  approach  of  the  regulars.  This  led  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  whole  movement  was  another 
scheme  of  Gage's  to  alarm  the  people;  and,  the 
evening  being  cool,  the  company  was  dismissed, 
with  orders  to  report  again  at  the  beat  of  the 
drum.  Some  went  to  their  homes  near  by,  but 
more  gathered  in  Buckman's  Tavern.  Messengers 
were  frequently  sent  in  order  to  prevent  a  sur- 
prise. It  was  Thaddeus  Bowman,  the  last  one 
sent  out,  who  returned  with  the  certain  intelli- 
gence of  the  approach  of  the  king's  troops; 
others,  who  preceded  him  as  detectives,  had  been 
captured,  and  he  had  a  narrow  escape.  It  was 
about  half-past  four  o'clock  when  my  father  or- 
dered the  alarm-gun  to  be  fired,  and  the  drum  to 
beat  to  arms.^ 

Sergeant  William  Munroe  formed  the  company 
in  two  ranks,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  meeting- 
house. Father  ordered  the  men  not  to  fire  unless 
fired  upon.  The  minute-men's  drum  was  the  first 
heard  that  morning  by  the  British  soldiers ;  for 
they  had  made  a  silent  march,  in  hopes  to  catch 

^  The  drum  is  said  to  have  been  a  gift  from  John  Hancock.  A 
portion  of  the  head  is  now  seen  in  the  Lexington  historical  collec- 
tion ;  on  it  is  to  be  seen  a  representation  of  a  portion  of  the  Han- 
cock arms. 


30  £EN£AT/J-  OLD  HOOP  TREES 

the  people  napping.  It  was  evidently  taken  by 
the  British  officers  as  a  challenge.  They  halted, 
primed,  and  loaded,  and  then  moved  forward  in 
double-quick  time  upon  our  men  as  they  were 
forming.  Some  began  to  falter,  when  father  com- 
manded every  man  to  stand  his  ground  till  he 
should  order  him  to  leave  it,  saying  he  would 
have  the  first  man  shot  down  who  should  attempt 
to  leave  his  place.  Then  came  the  rush,  and  the 
shout  of  Major  Pitcairn,  "  Disperse,  ye  rebels  ;  lay 
down  your  arms  and  disperse!"  Our  men  did 
not  obey;  and  Gage  repeated  his  order  with  an 
oath,  rushed  forward,  discharged  his  pistol,  and 
gave  orders  to  his  men  to  fire.  A  few  guns  were 
discharged;  but  no  injury  being  done,  our  men 
supposed  the  enemy  were  firing  only  powder,  and 
they  did  not  return  the  fire.  The  next  volley 
fired  by  the  British  took  effect,  and  our  men  re- 
turned it.  When  father  saw  his  men  fall,  and  the 
rush  of  the  enemy  from  both  sides  of  the  meeting- 
house, as  if  to  capture  them  all,  he  gave  the  order 
to  disperse.  The  British  continued  firing,  and 
our  men  returned  the  fire  after  leaving  the  field. 
Ebenezer  Munroe  first  discovered  that  balls  had 
been  fired  by  the  enemy,  for  he  received  a  wound  in 
his  arm.  In  return  for  this  he  discharged  his  gun, 
and  received  two  balls  from  the  British,  one  grazed 
his  cheek,  and  the  other  just  marked  his  clothing. 
John  Munroe  did  well,  but  loading  with  two 
balls,  lost  a  part  of  the  muzzle  of  his  gun. 


JOHN  PARKER'S  STORY  3 1 

William  Tidd,  first  lieutenant  in  our  company, 
did  well.  When  pursued  by  an  officer,  thought  to 
have  been  Pitcairn  himself,  who  cried  out  to  him, 
"  Stop,  or  you  are  a  dead  man,"  he  sprang  over 
a  pair  of  bars,  made  a  stand  and  fired,  and  thus 
escaped,  John  Tidd  fared  hard.  He  stayed  too 
long  on  the  Common,  and  was  struck  down  with 
a  cutlass  by  a  British  officer  on  horseback.  He 
was  robbed  of  all  his  belongings  and  left  for  dead  ; 
but  John  lived  a  good  many  years  after  that  day. 
Poor  Jonas  Parker !  how  my  father  mourned  over 
him !  He  had  always  said  he'd  never  run  from  an 
enemy.  He  kept  his  word.  Having  loaded  his 
musket,  he  put  his  hat,  in  which  was  his  ammuni- 
tion, on  the  ground  between  his  feet,  ready  to  load 
again.  He  was  wounded  at  the  enemy's  second 
fire,  and  sank  upon  his  knees  ;  he  then  discharged 
his  gun,  and  while  loading  again  was  run  through 
by  a  bayonet  thrust  which  finished  him.  My 
father  could  hardly  keep  back  the  tears  when  tell- 
ing of  Isaac  Muzzy,  Robert  Munroe,  and  Jonathan 
Harrington,  who  were  killed  on  the  Common  when 
the  company  was  paraded.  'Twas  strange  that 
Ensign  Robert  should  have  served  in  the  French 
war,  been  standard-bearer  at  the  capture  of  Louis- 
burg,  and  then  been  of  the  first  to  fall  by  the 
bullets  of  the  king's  army.  Poor  Harrington  fell 
in  front  of  his  own  house.  His  wife  at  the  win- 
dow saw  him  fall,  and  then  start  up,  the  blood 
gushing  from  his  wounds.     He  stretched  out  his 


32  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

arms,  as  for  aid,  and  after  another  effort  fell  dead 
at  his  own  threshold.  Samuel  Hadley  and  John 
Brown  were  killed  after  leaving  the  Common. 
Asahel  Porter  was  a  Woburn  man ;  but  falling 
here,  we  felt  as  though  he  was  one  of  our  own 
men.  He  was  not  armed,  having  been  captured 
in  the  morning  by  the  British  on  their  approach 
to  Lexington,  and  in  trying  to  make  his  escape 
was  shot  down  near  the  Common.  Jedediah  Mun- 
roe  received  a  double  share.  He  was  not  only 
wounded  in  the  morning,  but  was  killed  in  the 
afternoon.  Others  who  were  wounded  were  John 
Robbins,  Solomon  Pierce,  Thomas  Winship,  Na- 
thaniel Farmer,  and  Francis  Brown. 

"  That's  well  done,  John,"  cried  a  chorus  of 
attentive  listeners;  "you  had  your  eyes  and  ears 
open  as  well  in  your  boyhood." 

"  You've  missed  those  men  who  were  in  the 
meeting-house  after  powder,"  said  Mr.  Simonds. 

"  Sure  enough,"  replied  the  mechanic,  giving 
his  workbench  a  thump  with  his  huge  mallet. 
"It's  your  turn  now,  Simonds  ;  'twas  your  father 
that  dealt  out  the  powder,  and  you  may  finish  the 
story." 

JOSHUA    SIMONDS'S    STORY. 
The  First  Prisoner,  and  First  Trophy  of  the  War. 

I  was  in  charge  of  the  town's  stock  of  ammuni- 
tion on  the  eventful  morning.     The  magazine  was 


JOSHUA   SIMONDS'S  STOKY  33 

the  upper  gallery  of  the  meeting-house,  and  in 
the  discharge  of  my  duties  I  was  there  filling  the 
powder-horns  of  my  comrades  when  the  regulars 
came  into  the  town. 

As  fast  as  the  horns  were  filled,  their  owners 
made  haste  down  the  stairs,  and  out  to  the  line 
of  the  company  for  action.  Of  the  last  two  who 
left  the  house,  one,  Caleb  Harrington,  was  de- 
tected and  killed,  while  the  other,  Joseph  Comee, 
running  in  the  midst  of  a  shower  of  bullets,  was 
struck  in  the  arm,  but  reached  a  dwelling-house, 
and  passing  through  it  made  a  safe  retreat. 

I  was  left  in  the  meeting-house  with  one  asso- 
ciate, when,  as  it  appeared,  the  truth  flashed  upon 
the  British  commander,  and  he  determined  to  see 
what  was  in  the  house. 

We  heard  the  order,  "  Clear  that  house  !  "  My 
associate  glancing  out  saw  the  situation,  and  said, 
"We  are  all  surrounded!"  He  then  hid  in  the 
opposite  gallery. 

We  heard  the  order,  "  Right  about  face ! "  I 
then  determined  to  blow  up  the  house  and  go 
with  it  rather  than  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  I  cocked  my  gun  already  loaded,  placed 
the  muzzle  upon  the  open  cask  of  powder,  and 
waited  for  their  course  to  determine  their  fate 
and  mine  as  well.  With  my  heart  throbbing  to 
bursting,  I  heard  the  tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  as  the 
soldiers  came  up  the  steps,  and  the  words  of  the 
commander,  as  his  head  rose  above  the  casement, 


34  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

"  Are  there  any  more  rebels  in  this  house  ?  " 
Tramp,  tramp — they  came  nearer  and  nearer, 
then  the  word,  "  Halt,"  brought  all  to  a  stand. 
After  an  instant's  pause,  when  the  regulars,  the 
meeting-house,  myself,  and  comrade,  were  within 
a  hair's  breadth  of  destruction,  the  order  was 
given,  "  Right  about,  march  !  "  and  they  left  the 
house. 

I  looked  from  the  window,  and  saw  the  enemy 
form  in  line,  and  start  on  towards  Concord  ;  while 
there  lay  on  the  Common  my  dead  neighbors,  but 
no  sign  of  a  living  comrade  outside. 

As  soon  as  practicable  we  left  the  house,  and 
in  consternation  went  out  upon  the  field.  I  soon 
espied  a  straggler  from  the  regular  army,  who 
seemed  to  be  somewhat  indifferent  to  the  whole 
situation. 

He  made  no  attempt  to  escape,  and  I  took  him 
into  my  custody.  He  was  an  Irishman,  fully  six 
feet  in  height,  and  manifested  but  little  inter- 
est in  the  morning  excursion.  To  my  inquiry  as 
to  his  delay,  I  found  he  had  been  overcome  with 
liquor,  lingered  behind,  and  lost  his  companions. 
I  took  him  to  a  place  of  safe  keeping,  away  from 
the  possible  line  of  march  of  the  army  when  they 
should  return.  He  was  thus  the  first  prisoner 
captured  on  that  day. 

His  musket,  a  good  specimen  of  the  king's 
arms,  I  also  took,  appropriated  to  my  own  use, 
and  at  the  close  of  that  day  turned  it   over  to 


JOSHUA   SIMONDS'S  STORY  35 

Captain  Parker  as  public  property.  I  was  not 
able  to  ascertain  the  remainder  of  the  man's  ex- 
perience, but  the  gun  is  of  interest  to  all. 

The  first  trophy  of  the  war  was  held  by  Cap- 
tain Parker  until  his  death  in  the  autumn  of  that 
year,  when  it  became  the  property  of  his  son 
John,  the  mechanic  ;  and  it  occupied  a  position 
over  the  door  of  the  dwelling-house  of  the  Parker 
homestead. 

The  gun  now  became  in  a  peculiar  manner  a 
piece  of  common  property  with  the  Parker  and 
Simonds  families. 

At  the  settlement  of  the  estate  of  Captain  Par- 
ker I  bought  a  portion  of  the  homestead,  and  my 
family  occupied  a  part  of  the  house.  Large  fami- 
lies of  children  had  some  things  in  common,  one 
being  the  old  musket.^ 

The  story  of  Joshua  Simonds's  experience  told 
by  his  son  William  met  with  the  approval  of  the 
belfry  listeners,  inasmuch  as  it  accounted  for  the 
men  omitted  by  John  Parker,  and  made  clear 
some  things  about  which  there  was  a  little  disa- 
greement. 

In    resuming,    Mr.    Eli    Simonds   said,   "When 

1  Mr.  Sylvanus  Wood  of  Woburn  claimed  the  honor  of  captur- 
ing the  first  prisoner.  The  discrepancy  may  be  accounted  for  by 
the  two  incidents  occurring  at  different  places.  Some  twenty  years 
after  the  death  of  Mr.  Simonds,  a  claim  was  made  for  a  pension 
by  Mr.  Wood,  and  obtained  by  aid  of  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  then 
representative  in  Congress  for  the  district  of  Middlesex, 


36 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


bent  on  a  squirrel-hunt  I  went  to  the  belfry  shop 
and  asked  permission  of  John  Parker  to  take  the 
old  musket.  Realizing  that  it  was  my  grandfather 
who  captured  it,  and  his  grandfather  who  held 
it,  he  would  playfully  say  when  handing  it  down 
to  me,  *  You  may  take  our  gun.' 

"  Among  my  associates  and  playfellows  was 
Theodore  Parker,  son  of  the  mechanic  of  the  bel- 
fry. To  his  possession  in  later  years  the  musket 
came;  and  through  a  provision  of  his  last  will, 
that  musket  of  history  found  its  way  to  the  Sen- 
ate Chamber  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts." 


INSCRIPTION  ON  LEXINGTON  MONUMENT 


Sacmed  to  Liberty  and  the  rights  of  Mankind!  !  ! 

The  h  rekuom  and  Independence  of  America, 
Sealed  and  defended  with  the  Blood  of  her  Sons. 

This  Monument  is  erected 

By  the  inhabitants  of  Lexington, 

Under  the  patronage  and  at  the  expense  of 

The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 

To  the  memory  of  their  Fellow  Citizens, 

Ensign  Robert  Munroe,  and  Messrs.  Jonas  Parker, 

Samuel  Hadley,  Jonathan  Harrington,  Jr., 

Isaac  Muzzy,  Caleb  Harrington  and  John  Brown, 

of  Lexington  and  Asahel  Porter,  of  Woburn, 

Who  fell  on  this  Field,   the  First  Victims  to  the 

Sword  of  British  Tyranny  and  Oppression 

On  the  morning  of  the  ever  memorable 

Nineteenth  of  April,  An.  Dom.  1775, 

The  Die  was  cast!!! 

The  Blood  of  these  Martyrs 

In  the  cause  of  God  and  their  Country 

Was  the  Cement  of  the  Union  cf  these  States,  then 

Colonies,  and  cave  the  spring  to  the  Spirit,  l-iKMNEhS, 

And  Resolution  of  their  Fellow  Citizens. 

They  rose  as  one  Man  to  revenge  their  Brethren's 

Blood,  and  at  the  Point  of  the  Sword,  to  assert  and 

Defend  their  native  Rights. 

They  nobly  dar'd  to  be  free!! 

The  contest  was  long,  bloody  and  affecting. 

Righteous  Heaven  approved  the  solemn  appeal. 

Victory  crowned  their  arms;  and 

The  Peace,  Liberty,  and  Independence  of  the  United 

States  of  America  was  their  Glorious  Reward. 


MORE  BELFRY  ECHOES  2)7 


CHAPTER   V 

MORE  BELFRY  ECHOES. BOSTON  POOR 

**It  was  some  days  after  the  rehearsal  of  my 
grandfather's  experience  by  my  father,"  said 
Uncle  Eli,  "  before  the  weather  favored  another 
gathering  of  the  same  company.  Farmers  were 
obliged  to  spend  all  the  time  in  fair  weather  on 
their  land,  and,  in  fact,  there  were  duties  enough 
for'  foul  weather ;  but  there  was  an  advantage  in 
the  interchange  of  ideas  for  the  older  people,  and 
the  boys,  such  as  Sydney  Lawrence,  Theodore 
Parker,  and  myself,  improved  those  opportunities. 

The  Parker  and  Simonds  stories  had  revived 
an  old  theme  ;  and  the  older  belfry  speakers,  when 
at  their  homes,  refreshed  their  memories  by  the 
aid  of  wives  and  parents. 

John  Parker  himself  was  not  averse  to  taking 
a  part  in  the  ordinary  belfry  gossip ;  and  when  con- 
versation turned,  as  it  often  did,  upon  the  subject 
of  the  Revolution,  especially  when  others  of  his 
age  were  in  the  company,  he  was  sure  to  drop  his 
auger  or  mallet,  push  up  his  spectacles,  and  join. 
Being  in  his  fifteenth  year  when  Major  Pitcairn, 
backed  by  eight  hundred  regulars,  ordered  his 
father  with  his  company  to  disperse,  John  Parker 


38  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

was  admitted  to  be  good  authority,  and  even  Jon- 
athan Harrington  (the  last  survivor)  would  give  a 
listening  ear. 

"  It  was  a  catching  day  in  haying  season,  dog- 
days  are  usually  uncertain,"  said  Uncle  Eli,  "when 
the  belfry  was  filled  with  young  and  old,  and  con- 
versation was  at  its  height,  a  discussion  of  the 
two  stories  was  in  order,  and  Mr.  Parker  inter- 
rupted the  speculation  by  saying,  *  We  had  be- 
come so  alarmed  by  the  reports  from  the  army  in 
Boston  that  we  hourly  expected  to  see  them  rush 
in  upon  us,  and  rob  and  butcher  young  and  old ; 
of  course,  much  of  this  was  the  result  of  exag- 
gerated stories,  yet  it  took  but  the  slightest  alarm 
to  set  all  in  motion.  Why,  I  stood  there  by  that 
wall '  (pointing  to  the  fence  near  by)  '  on  the  19th, 
and  listened  to  the  old  bell  as  it  clanged  and 
clanged  in  this  old  belfry  up  there  on  the  Com- 
mon, and  I  longed  to  be  there  with  father  and  the 
rest ;  but  mother  needed  me,  and  I  well  remember 
her  anxious  face  as  she  came  running  out  of  the 
house,  with  her  silver  spoons  and  other  valua- 
bles, which  she  intrusted  to  my  care.  Now,  if  you 
will  just  come  with  me,  I  will  show  you  where 
I  secreted  them.'  To  this  call  and  lead  of  the 
speaker,  we  all  responded,  regardless  of  the  falling 
rain,  and  followed  down  to  where  a  decayed  stump 
of  an  apple-tree  was  yet  visible,"  said  Uncle  Eli. 

■"'Here  is  where  I  pat  it,'  said  Mr.  Parker; 
'  there  was  much  more  of   the  tree  here  at  that 


MORE  BELFRY  ECHOES  3.9 

time,  but  it  was  hollow ;  and  thinking  of  the  suc- 
cessful hiding  of  the  charter  of  the  Connecticut 
Colony  from  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  by  William 
Wadsworth,  I  determined  in  my  haste  to  intrust 
the  household  valuables  to  a  hollow  tree.  I  dug 
into  the  decayed  heart,  and  pushed  down  my 
treasures,  with  as  stealthy  motion  as  though  the 
whole  army  of  the  king  was  near  at  hand.  So 
anxious  were  we  about  father's  safety  (for  he  was 
ill  when  he  left  the  house)  that  I  was  kept  a  good 
part  of  the  time  stationed  down  near  the  highway 
so  as  to  catch  the  slightest  intimation  of  tidings 
from  any  one  passing.'  Upon  returning  to  our 
belfry  shelter,  a  hitherto  earnest  listener  was  seen 
to  take  a  fresh  pinch  of  snuff,  strike  a  positive 
attitude,  and  take  his  turn  in  the  conversation. 

"Said  the  new  speaker,  'That  didn't  begin  with 
the  Cutlers  over  to  the  west  side.  Thomas,  you 
know,  was  a  minute-man,  and  was  off  to  answer 
the  call,  and  all  of  the  men  of  the  family  were 
gone.  The  womenfolks  were  so  frightened  that 
they  all  fled  to  the  woods,  and  left  the  babe  in 
the  cradle.'  —  'Do  tell!'  cried  out  a  half-score 
of  voices,  'What  became  of  '\\.}'  —  'Oh,  it  lived 
to  tell  its  own  story,'  resumed  the  speaker.  '  I 
guess  it  was  much  more  comfortable  than  were 
those  who  forgot  it,  sleeping  away  as  though  the 
redcoats  were  cracking  jokes  down  in  Boston 
camp. 

"'But  some  of  the  folks  at  the  Centre  hid  their 


40  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

silver  under  a  heap  of  stones,  thinking  it  would 
never  be  discovered  there  ;  but  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  regulars  came  back  from  Concord,  the 
owner  looked  out  from  her  hiding-place,  and  saw 
an  officer  standing  directly  on  top  of  the  stones. 
But  he  had  little  thought  of  what  was  under 
him,  being  too  much  absorbed  in  that  which  was 
about  him.' 

"'I  declare,'  said  Uncle  Caleb,  'that  reminds 
me  of  the  folks  down  to  the  east  side,  when 
the  regulars  went  into  the  house  and  ransacked 
everything.  No  one  dared  resist,  although  some 
were  where  they  saw  all  that  was  done,  until  one 
red-coated  fellow  began  to  tear  the  leaves  out  of 
the  old  Bible  ;  then  a  boy  pushed  his  head  out 
from  under  the  table,  and  exclaimed,  "My  dad 
'ill  give  it  to  you,  if  you  spoil  our  best  Bible!" 
They  did  not  meddle  with  the  boy,  thought  it  not 
worth  the  while,  I  suppose.' 

"  *  No  more  than  our  folks  did  the  little  fifer,* 
said  Lieutenant  Munroe.  '  He  was  a  bright  little 
fellow,  and  had  piped  away  for  Pitcairn  as  well  as 
he  could,  in  coming  down  from  Concord,  until 
an  old  fellow  had  let  fly  at  him  from  his  musket 
loaded  with  shot  for  wild  geese,  and  had  broken 
one  of  his  wings  ;  at  least,  there  he  sat,  with  his 
fife  stuck  into  the  breast  of  his  jacket,  begging 
for  help.'  —  *We  gave  it  to  him  too,'  cried 
a  voice  from  the  perch  above  ;  'although  they 
abused  our  folks,  young  and  old.'  —  '  If  they  hadn't 


MORE   BELFRY  ECHOES  4! 

thought  any  of  us  worth  killing,'  said  Mr.  Blod- 
gett,  '  more  than  they  did  Black  Prince,  why  they 
would  have  gone  right  on,  and  we  should  have 
been  as  free  to  go  to  dinner  as  we  are  to-day.' 
With  this  closing  remark  the  company  decided  to 
disperse  at  the  ringing  of  the  noon  bell,  cheered 
by  the  promise  of  haying  weather  for  the  rest  of 
the  day." 

Weeks  passed  before  the  same  company  assem- 
bled again  under  the  roof  of  the  old  belfry.  But 
they  had  casually  met  in  twos  or  threes  in  their 
daily  walks,  and  some  plans  for  the  presentation 
of  incidents  in  the  military  history  had  been  the 
result. 

Jonathan  Harrington  was  the  leading  speaker 
at  the  next  meeting.  He  was  about  one  year 
older  than  John  Parker,  and  was  a  fifer  in  "that 
phalanx  of  freemen"  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775. 
He  said,  '*I  Was  aroused  early  that  morning  by 
a  cry  from  my  mother,  '  Jonathan,  get  up,  the 
regulars  are  coming,  and  something  must  be 
done.'"  Mr.  Harrington  said,  "But  fighting  was 
not  the  whole  of  it ;  our  people  had  burdens  to 
bear  that  are  not  suggested  by  the  experiences  in 
the  field.  The  loss  of  ten  of  our  citizens  carried 
mourning  into  many  families,  and  sorrow  rested 
upon  the  hearts  of  a  broad  circle  at  the  close  of 
that  eventful  day.  But  that  was  not  all.  There 
had  been  a  wanton  destruction  of  property  on  the 
route  of   the  enemy's    march,  and  the  pecuniary 


42  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

sacrifice  had  scarcely  begun.  Each  town  was 
called  upon  to  share  in  it.  With  the  operation 
of  the  Port  Bill  came  grim  want.  Business  was 
suspended  in  Boston,  and  sources  of  supply  were 
cut  off.  The  Whigs  refused  to  furnish  their 
produce  to  the  Tories  and  British  oflficers  ;  Tories 
were  severely  dealt  with  when  attempting  to  se- 
crete supplies  into  Boston.  Many  who  had  been 
in  comfortable  circumstances  were  brought  to  the 
level  of  others  who  had  been  previously  depend- 
ent. Many  of  the  poor  of  Boston  made  an  early 
removal  into  the  country  to  the  homes  of  friends, 
but  there  were  others  who  were  forced  to  remain 
and  suffer.  So  great  was  their  want  that  relief 
was  sent  from  other  colonies.  Colonel  Israel 
Putnam  came  with  a  drove  of  sheep  from  Connec- 
ticut to  succor  the  inhabitants  of  the  besieged 
town.  Sickness  naturally  followed  the  scarcity  of 
provision,  and  the  condition  was  distressing  to 
the  extreme.  The  towns  did  all  in  their  power 
for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers,  taking  them  into 
their  own  homes,  and  sharing  their  reduced  in- 
come with  those  more  needy.  The  extremity 
was  so  great  that  on  May  i,  1775,  the  Provincial 
Congress  ordered  that  they  should  be  supported 
by  the  country  towns,  and  the  expense  of  removal 
of  thousands  unable  to  be  met  by  themselves 
should  also  be  borne  by  the  towns.  Lexington, 
with  the  others,  had  its  share  sent  out.  They 
were  sent  to  the  selectmen,  and  by  them  distrib- 


BOS7VA/  POOR  43 

uted  around  among  the  families.  Each  family 
was  provided  with  a  certificate  from  the  com- 
mittee of  donations.  This,  which  I  have  in  my 
hand,  was  brought  to  my  neighborhood  with  a 
family  who  found  a  good  home  there."  The 
speaker  paused  to  give  each  of  the  belfry  com- 
pany opportunity  to  examine  the  original  from 
which  the  cut  was  made  :  — 


;  BOST.OK.  Any^1^.I77^ 

THE  B;arer  Mr.*^,/.  i-^^^.:,-;   jL^vz^^  7iW<. 

Family  removing  out  of  the  Town  of  Bofton 
a/*^  recodimendcd  to  the  Charity  and  Affiftance 
of  our  Bc4cvolent  S^TiipathizIng  Brethren  in  the 
?  71         icvcral  1  (ijjns  in  this  Province-  i    .  . 

By  Ord|:r  of  the  Committee  of  Donations, 

>«  and  Csmmiittis  ef  Carr^fttsJnct  m  tht  fi'^era/Tirxnt 
of  MaJfacbuJ'etli-Si^ 


'/ 


C^ 


Certificate 

He  continued  by  saying,  "After  the  camp  was 
established  at  Cambridge,  there  came  the  demand 
for  supplies  of  food  and  clothing,  and  above  all 
there  was  a  continual  demand  for  necessaries  for 
the  hospitals.  As  each  colony  was  at  first  man- 
aging its  own  army,  it  also  made  provision  for 
them.  But  up  to  the  time  of  the  coming  of  Gen- 
eral   Washington,    and   the    organization    of    the 


44  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

Continental  army,  a  good  deal  was  supplied  gra- 
tuitously and  voluntarily.  Brave  young  men,  un- 
used to  hardship,  who  were  in  service  on  April 
19,  and  went  immediately  to  Cambridge,  were 
soon  stricken  down  with  disease,  and  either  went 
home  to  die,  or  perished  there  in  the  illy  fitted 
hospitals."  So  great  was  the  want  of  the  British 
army  at  one  time  in  1775,  it  is  said  that  the  town 
bull,  aged  twenty  years,  was  slaughtered  in  order 
that  the  officers  might  have  a  change  of  diet  from 
the  salt  meat  to  which  they  were  reduced.  The 
price  per  pound  was  eighteen  pence  sterling.  We 
can  imagine  that  a  steak  from  this  patriarch  had 
staying  qualities,  at  least. 

Each  town  within  the  distance  of  twenty  miles 
was  called  upon  to  furnish  its  quota  of  wood, 
hay,  and  beef  for  the  army  at  Cambridge.  Dur- 
ing the  entire  war  there  were  continual  calls 
upon  the  towns  for  shirts,  shoes,  stockings,  and 
blankets,  and  other  necessaries.  While  the  men 
were  striving  to  meet  the  oft-repeated  calls  of 
the  tax-collector,  the  women  were  busy  at  the 
spinning-wheel  and  loom,  and  there  was  no  one 
exempt  from  duty." 


THEODORE  PARKER  45 


CHAPTER   VI 

THEODORE    PARKER.  A    BELFRY    LISTENER 

"The  rehearsal  of  these  trying  experiences 
through  which  our  ancestors  passed  was  of  great 
interest,  and  subdued  us  all  to  a  condition  of  seri- 
ousness," said  Uncle  Iili.  "  But  John  Parker 
broke  the  spell  when  he  said,  'The  British  got  the 
worst  of  it.  They  came  out  here  to  capture  Han- 
cock and  Adams,  as  well  as  to  destroy  the  stores 
at  Concord ;  but  they  missed  their  aim  here,  and 
fared  hard  indeed  in  their  entire  enterprise.  Pit- 
cairn  probably  thought  he  had  so  used  our  com- 
pany that  we  would  not  rally  again  ;  but  he  got 
some  shots  from  us  as  he  came  down  through 
Lincoln,  and  not  a  few  farewells  were  hurled  at 
him  as  he  left  town.'" 

Among  the  attentive  listeners  of  the  belfry 
workshop  none  attained  greater  eminence  than 
Theodore  Parker.  Endowed  with  an  enviable  in- 
heritance on  both  sides  of  his  family,  he  went 
forth,  overcoming  all  obstacles,  as  an  example  of 
Christian  heroism ;  standing  out  against  oppos- 
ing forces  as  distinctly  and  grandly  as  did  his 
honored  grandsire  on  the  field  of  Lexington, 
April   19,   1775. 


46  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

It  is  fitting  to  make  a  digression  at  this  point 
from  the  main  line  of  my  subject,  and  consider  a 
brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  Theodore  Parker,  as 
given  by  his  old  belfry  companion,  Eli  Simonds. 

Theodore  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  children 
of  John  Parker  and  Hannah  Stearns.  He  was 
born  in  i8io.  Eli  Simonds  was  the  tenth  of  a 
full  dozen  of  children  of  William  Simonds  and 
Susan  Pierce.  He  was  born  in  1817.  Although 
seven  years  the  junior  of  Theodore,  the  two  boys 
had  much  in  common.  While  Eli  was  too  young 
to  be  profitably  employed  about  the  farm,  he 
found  a  nook  in  the  belfry  workshop,  where  Theo- 
dore was  trying  to  aid  his  father  in  the  struggle 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  family. 

The  humdrum  of  the  workshop  was  irksome 
indeed  to  the  boy  Theodore,  whose  tastes  for  lit- 
erary pursuits  began  to  develop  very  early  ;  but 
constrained  by  a  sense  of  duty,  he  was  faithful  at 
his  post,  whatever  it  might  be. 

The  manufacture  of  wood  pumps  was  carried 
on  by  John  Parker,  much  of  the  work  being  done 
in  the  belfry  shop.  The  logs,  cut  thereabouts, 
were  trimmed  and  bored  by  hand  ;  the  great  auger 
used  in  making  the  circular  hole  in  the  green 
pine  log  was  turned  by  hand.  This  work  required 
a  good  deal  of  force  ;  and  Theodore  detested  it, 
and  assumed  very  early  the  duties  of  the  farm  in 
place  of  that  of  the  workshop. 

Although  located  on  a  farm  which  might  have 


THEODORE  PARKER 


47 


given  good  returns  for  faithful  cultivation,  John 
Parker  had  but  little  taste  or  inclination  in  that 
direction,  preferring  the  work  of  a  mechanic 
Hence,  both  father  and  son  pursued  the  line  of 
choice,  as  far  as  circumstance  admitted.  "When 
the  school  was  kept  at  the  little  brown  school- 
house  at  '  Kite  End,'  "  said  Uncle  Eli,  "  we  were 


Birthplace  of  Theodore  Parker 


always  in  attendance.  The  schoolhouse  was  rude 
and  the  room  unattractive;  although  the  old  fire- 
place had  been  superseded  by  a  large  square  stove, 
around  which  we  gathered  to  warm  our  bare  feet 
in  the  late  autumn  days,  and  to  thaw  our  fingers 
and   lunch    in   the   winter.      Theodore   took   but 


48  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

little  interest  in  our  games,  but  spent  his  odd 
moments  over  some  book  ;  but  they  were  scarce 
indeed,  yet  such  as  could  be  obtained  never  es- 
caped his  faithful  attention. 

"  We  went  together  to  the  village  to  attend  ser- 
vice at  the  meeting-house  on  Sundays.  It  was 
there  that  he  had  access  to  an  old  association 
library,  from  which  he  drew  books  to  use  at 
home.  I  have  seen  him  open  a  book,  when  start- 
ing homeward  after  service,  and  become  oblivi- 
ous to  all  else.  He  would  become  so  absorbed 
as  to  lose  his  bearings,  and  occasionally  come  in 
contact  with  a  tree  or  stone  wall  ;  but  tacking 
about,  he  would  start  on  again,  still  engrossed 
with  some  deep  study,  that  offered  no  attraction 
to  me  or  other  boys  who  were  in  our  company. 

"I  well  remember  when,  in  about  the  year  1820, 
the  subject  of  a  Sunday-school  was  advanced. 
Parents  as  well  as  children  were  full  of  wonder- 
ment as  to  what  would  be  studied.  We  had 
studied  the  Westminster  Catechism  at  the  little 
brown  schoolhouse.  The  younger  of  us  having 
the  'New  England  Primer,'  a  sort  of  juvenile  cate- 
chism, in  which  we  had  learned,  — 

'  In  Adam's  fall,  we  sinned  all,' 

'  An  idle  fool  is  whip't  at  school,' 

'  My  book  and  heart  shall  never  part.' 

"We  also  had  learned  the  story  of  John  Rogers, 
•Agur's  Prayer,'  and  the  'Dialogue  between  Youth, 


THEODORE   PARKER  49 

Christ,  and  the  Devil'  But  what  could  be  studied 
at  a  Sunday-school  was  the  subject  for  general 
speculation  until  the  time  set  for  the  opening  of 
a  school.  We  were  all  there,  excepting  those 
whose  parents  were  jealous  of  the  school  being 
a  desecration  of  the  Lord's  day.  In  the  great 
square  pews  we  were  classified,  and  Deacon  Mulli- 
kin  was  our  teacher.  Theodore  hailed  the  Sun- 
day-school with  delight,  because  it  suggested 
study,  and  of  course  books  were  provided.  He 
improved  every  opportunity  for  study,  and  did 
succeed  in  getting  away  a  few  weeks  during  the 
winter  to  a  school  where  there  were  better  appli- 
ances for  school  work.  We  had  not  ceased  re- 
garding him  as  '  one  of  the  boys,'  when  it  was 
whispered  among  the  families  that  Theodore  Par- 
ker was  going  to  '  keep  school.' 

"  I  had  begun  to  look  upon  him  as  a  superior 
being,  even  when  we  were  the  most  intimately 
associated,  particularly  when  going  in  his  com- 
pany to  Boston  to  market  the  peaches  and  other 
produce  of  the  Parker-Simonds  farm.  We  rode 
to  market  in  the  night,  and  Theodore  would  talk 
about  the  stars,  and  upon  things  of  which  I  had 
failed  to  get  any  information.  But  when  he  be- 
gan the  life  of  a  schoolmaster,  I  felt  that  I  was 
left  entirely  in  the  rear. 

"After  the  close  of  his  Waltham  school,  it  was 
rumored  that  he  was  not  very  successful ;  and 
when  inquiry  was  made,  we  learned  that  Parson 


50  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

Ripley,  the  minister  of  the  place,  had  told  the 
secret  in  his  prayer  at  the  close  of  school.  The 
burden  of  his  petition  was  that  the  young  man 
might  learn  to  so  govern  himself  as  to  be  able 
to  teach  a  school  equal  to  his  ability.  Theodore 
frankly  acknowledged  that  his  greatest  struggle 
had  been  in  trying  to  govern  himself. 

"  When  Theodore  Parker  was  pursuing  a  course 
of  study  in  college,  he  spent  a  portion  of  two  of 
his  summer  vacations  at  work  on  my  father's 
farm,  receiving  seventy-five  cents  per  day  for  his 
labor.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  be  with  him  in  the 
field,  so  interesting  and  elevating  was  his  conver- 
sation. 

"In  after  years,"  said  Uncle  Eli,  "  I  heard  that 
Theodore  Parker  was  to  preach  at  Waltham  in 
Dr.  Ripley's  pulpit.  I  made  it  in  my  way  to 
attend  the  service,  which  was  most  uplifting  to 
me.  I  lingered  at  the  close,  and  succeeded  in  get- 
ting the  attention  of  the  young  preacher,  my 
former  companion,  who  came  to  me,  and  while  our 
hands  were  clasped  in  the  interchange  of  silent 
joy,  I  whispered  to  him,  '  Do  you  suppose  Dr. 
Ripley  has  found  that  you  have  learned  to  govern 
yourself  so  as  to  preach  equal  to  your  ability  } ' 
To  this  the  ready  wit  of  my  old  friend  led  him  to 
reply,  *  That  was  the  best  thing  he  could  have 
done  for  me  ;  for  it  cost  me  more  exertion  to  learn 
to  control   myself  than   all  else.'  " 

Mr.    Simonds  was  in  a  most  thoughtful  mood 


THEODORE  PARKER  5 1 

when  he  closed  his  story  of  Theodore  Parker  by 
saying,  "  Our  united  homestead  has  passed  into 
the  possession  of  other  families.  The  old  squirrel 
musket  has  become  the  property  of  the  State. 
The  little  brown  schoolhouse  has  disappeared ; 
and  of  all  the  voices  echoed  by  the  old  belfry 
workshop,  mine  is  almost  left  alone.  Even  the 
old  belfry  itself  has  gone  back  to  serve  as  a 
monument  of  its  April  alarm  in  '75.  Yet  I 
have  never  lost  my  interest  in  my  early  com- 
panion. Although  his  voice  long  since  was 
hushed,  his  influence  will  be  felt  long  after  the 
old  belfry  ceases  to  gratify  the  eye  of  the  tourist, 
or  its  oaken  frame  to  echo  the  voices  of  the 
patriots  who  climb  to  the  rustic  retreat  of  Belfry 
Hill." 


52  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE    PARSON    AND    PARSONAGE.  BURLINGTON    OR 

PRECINCT  PARSONAGE.  GUESTS  OF  APRIL   IQ, 

1775. REED    HOME 

The  word  parson  from  its  derivation  —  French 
persone,  Latin  persona  —  suggests  the  attitude  of 
that  official  in  New  England.  He  was  tJie  person 
of  the  town.  He  furnished,  not  merely  spiritual 
food,  but  much  of  the  intellectual  and  social  stim- 
ulus, for  the  entire  people. 

The  voice  of  the  preacher  was  regarded  as  the 
voice  of  God.  The  words  spoken  from  the  pulpit 
passed  from  lip  to  lip  as  the  sacred  oracles  of  the 
olden  times. 

In  many  of  the  colonies  the  clergy  were  the 
only  learned  class,  and  in  some  instances  even 
schooled  in  the  medical  profession,  serving  their 
people  as  healers  of  both  body  and  soul. 

The  parsonage  was  the  centre  of  influence,  and 
to  it  resorted  many  people.  When  journeying 
they  did  not  hesitate  to  halt  at  the  hospitable 
door,  and  were  never  refused  the  best  the  house 
afforded.  The  stated  salary  of  the  minister  was 
meagre  indeed,  but  it  represented  only  a  part  of 
the  amount  annually  bestowed  upon  him  and  his 
family.     There  were  many  in  the  parish  who  felt 


THE  PARSON  AND  PARSONAGE  53 

it  incumbent  upon  them  to  leave  at  the  parsonage 
a  tithing  of  all  their  produce,  thereby  making  it 
possible  for  the  good  wife  to  respond  to  oft-re- 
peated calls  upon  her  bounty. 

The  clergy  as  a  class  were  conservative,  and  in- 
clined to  favor  existing  institutions;  but  when  the 
difficulties  with  the  mother  country  assumed  form, 
when  it  was  necessary  for  action  to  be  taken,  the 
pastors  of  the  so-called  Puritan  Congregational 
Churches  favored  the  Colonial  cause  In  some 
instances  they  joined  the  ranks  of  the  minute-men 
and  shouldered  a  musket,  and  many  more  served 
as  chaplains  in  camp  and  hospital. 

The  parson  in  many  country  towns  was  an 
ardent  Whig,  notably  so  in  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord. Rev.  Jonas  Clark  of  the  former,  and  Rev. 
William  Emerson  of  the  latter,  were  so  outspoken 
as  to  be  known  as  "Patriot  Priests,"  or  "High 
Sons  of  Liberty."  Much  of  the  spirit  of  resist- 
ance to  British  oppression  in  those  towns  was 
attributable  to  their  utterances. 

A  Tory  writer  says  in  a  letter  dated  Sept.  2, 
1774  :  "  Some  of  the  ministers  are  continually  stir- 
ring up  the  people  to  resistance.  It  was  urged 
that  salvation  depended  upon  signing  certain  in- 
flammatory papers,  when  the  people  flew  to  their 
pens  with  an  eagerness  that  sufficiently  attested 
their  belief  in  their  pastors." 

The  person  who  could  make  the  most  lawless 
village  ruffian  cower  and  slink  away  by  a  look, 


54  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

who  presided  over  a  community  of  church-goers, 
and  who  had  a  paternal  care  for  everything  and 
every  one  in  it,  has  passed  away.  So  has  the 
New  England  parsonage  in  its  realistic  sense  been 
relegated  to  the  bygones.  But  the  house,  the 
parsonage,  in  many  instances  yet  remains,  occu- 
pied in  some  cases  by  descendants  in  the  third  or 
fourth  generation  from  the  patriot  priest  of  1775. 
To  these  homes  in  their  present  well-kept  condi- 
tion I  now  invite  my  readers,  while  we  there  con- 
sider the  footsteps  of  the  patriots. 

The  Lexington  parsonage  has  passed  out  of  the 
family  possession ;  but  to  its  well-kept  grounds 
all  may  go,  and  there  in  a  well  directed  fancy 
may  see  the  guard  of  minute-men  in  command 
of  Sergeant  Munroe  as  they  keep  their  all-night 
vigil.  Within,  the  rooms  are  reanimated  by  the 
voices  of  the  noted  patriots,  Hancock  and  Adams  ; 
the  graceful  figure  of  Dorothy  Quincy  and  the 
matronly  form  of  Madam  Hancock  add  dignity  to 
the  hour  and  occasion. 

It  was  perfectly  natural  that  those  notable  pa- 
triots should  have  turned  their  footsteps  to  the 
Lexington  parsonage.  They  were  just  from  a 
meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and 
Safety,  and  were  fully  aware  of  the  precarious 
situation  of  the  avowed  friends  of  the  Colonial 
cause  in  Boston,  and  that  for  them  the  British 
halter  was  already  threatened. 

It  was  not  merely  the  sympathy  for  one  cause 


THE  PARSON  AND  PARSONAGE  55 

that  attracted  them  to  that  home,  but  kinship  had 
allured  them  as  well.  Mrs.  Clark,  wife  of  the 
patriot  priest,  was  cousin  to  the  opulent  young 
merchant,  John  Hancock.  The  proud  step  and 
richly  embroidered  costume  of  this  guest  were 
not  strange  to  that  home.  It  had  been  the  abode 
of  his  paternal  ancestry  for  many  years.  There 
he  had  spent  much  of  his  boyhood  with  his  grand- 
father. Rev.  John  Hancock,  the  pastor  of  Lexing- 
ton. Where  he  was,  his  elder  friend  and  adviser, 
Samuel  Adams,  well  might  be. 

Tender  relations  and  fondest  hopes  account  for 
the  presence  of  the  others  in  the  group  that 
night.  The  subject  of  conversation  that  evening 
can  easily  be  imagined.  "  John  Hancock,  being 
in  England,  was  present  at  the  funeral  of  George 
H.,  and  also  at  the  coronation  of  George  HI.,  pa- 
geants congenial  tb  his  taste."  He  stood  almost 
at  the  head  of  the  merchants  of  Boston,  had  been 
an  object  of  flattery,  and  strongly  urged  to  join 
the  royal  party  ;  but  thanks  to  Samuel  Adams, 
the  young  merchant  was  so  decided  in  his  course 
that  he  could  say,  while  thinking  of  that  princely 
residence  and  all  else  :  "  Burn  Boston,  and  make 
John  Hancock  a  beggar,  if  the  public  -good 
requires  it  !"  Had  there  been  a  word  of  doubt  or 
any  hesitancy  expressed  as  to  the  righteousness 
of  the  cause  in  which  the  noted  guests  were 
champions,  it  would  have  been  dissipated  by  the 
firm  convictions  of  Rev.  Jonas  Clark. 


56  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

The  messengers  from  Boston  were  not  only  to 
warn  — 

"The  country  folk  to  be  up  and  to  arm," 

but  to  look  out  for  the  safety  of  Hancock  and 
Adams.  Those  proud  spirits  could  not  easily  be 
persuaded  to  flee  from  any  power.  But  the  ap- 
peal in  behalf  of  the  future  welfare  of  the  Colo- 
nies inclined  them  to  consent ;  and  having  heard 
the  first  shots,  and  uttered  memorable  words, 
these  noted  men  were  conducted  from  one  parson- 
age to  another. 

Over  in  Woburn  Precinct,  Burlington,  was  an- 
other parsonage.  It  was  but  a  few  miles  away. 
The  minister.  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  had  recently 
died  ; .  but  his  widow,  well  known  to  Rev.  Jonas 
Clark,  was  an  ardent  Whig.  There  was  a  young 
minister,  Rev.  John  Marrett,  at  this  home,  who 
was  destined  to  be  the  successor  of  the  deceased 
pastor  in  both  pastoral  and  family  relations.  The 
Lexington  pastor  and  his  guests  had  confidence 
in  all  the  occupants  of  the  Precinct  parsonage,  and 
made  haste  in  that  direction.  They  made  a  halt 
at  the  home  of  James  Reed,  a  well-known  patriot, 
but  soon  pushed  on  ;  and  as  the  gilded  coach 
rolled  up  to  the  door  of  the  parsonage,  open 
arms  and  hearts  were  in  anxious  waiting.  The 
patriots,  with  Miss  Quincy,  were  soon  comfortably 
ensconced  in  Madam  Jones's  best  room. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  the  reader  to   know 


BURLINGTON  OR  PR  EC  INT  PARSONAGE      $y 

something  of  the  history  of  the  Precinct  parson- 
age before  following  this  morning's  guests  any 
farther.  Leaving  them  seated  before  the  crack- 
ling fire,  the  freshly  scoured  brass  of  the  hand- 
irons  reflecting  their  brilliant  costumes  in  most 
pleasing  pictures,  we  take  the  hand  of  the  present 
owner,  1895,  Samuel  Sewall,  of  the  fourth  genera- 
tion, and  hear  from  him  the  story  of  the  — 

PRECINCT     PARSONAGE. 

It  was  purchased  by  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  my 
great-grandfather,  in  175 1.  He  was  the  second 
minister  of  the  town,  filling  that  position  in  the 
broadest  sense  of  the  term  until  his  death  in  1774. 
He  lived  to  see  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution- 
ary troubles,  and  to  make  an  impression  as  an 
avowed  patriot,  but,  like  Moses  of  old,  died  with- 
out entering  the  promised  land  of  freedom.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Marrett,  who  married 
his  daughter,  and  hence  the  pastoral  association 
continued  with  this  house.  This  young  minister, 
my  grandfather,  proved  to  be  a  most  worthy  asso- 
ciate of  the  ministers  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 
Besides  his  regular  duties,  he  gave  much  attention 
to  the  poor  of  Boston,  who  were  sent  out  to  the 
town,  sheltering  some  in  this  house.  He  also 
made  frequent  visits  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge, 
and  there  administered  to  the  wants  of  the  needy. 
He  kept  a  daily  record  of  the  vicissitudes  of  the 
times,  and  this  record  is  one  of  the  precious  relics  - 


58 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


of  our  family.  Strangely  enough  Rev.  Mr.  Mar- 
rett's  successor,  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  married  the 
daughter  of  his  predecessor,  and  the  charm  still 
remained.  I  was  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Sewall  and  Mary  Marrett  ;  with  two  sisters  I 
occupy  the  ancestral  home.  Here  my  children 
and  grandchildren  have  been  born,  and  are  enjoy- 
ing the  same  privilege.  Hence,  six  generations 
have  already  occupied  the  parsonage,  and  many 
reminders  of  the  first  are  constantly  before  the 
sixth  generation."  This  well-kept  home  presents 
much  of  the  same  appearance  that  cheered  the 
eyes  of  the  noted  guests  of  April  19,  1775,  when 
Hancock's  gilded  coach  rolled  up  to  the  door. 
Old-fashioned    hospitality   found   expression    in 

an  early  spread 
of  the  best  the 
house  afforded. 
Madam  Jones 
made  haste  to 
prepare  a  meal 
worthy  of  her 
guests;  she  was 
aided  by  Cuff, 
the  faithful  ne- 
gro slave  of  the 
parsonage.  A 
spring  salmon 
had  been  passed  in  to  the  door  of  the  Lexington 
parsonage  in  honor  of  the  guests.     This  was  sent 


Parsona(;i-;   Iaulk 


GUESTS  OF  APRIL  19,  1775  59 

on  by  a  messenger  to  the  Precinct,  and  was  pre- 
pared by  Madam  Jones.  All  being  ready,  the 
guests  were  seated  about  the  best  table,  with  Rev. 
John  Marrett  as  the  host.  Grace  had  been  duly 
said,  and  they  were  just  to  begin  the  welcome  meal, 
when  a  hurried  messenger  entered  the  house  an- 
nouncing that  the  British  were  coming  in  hot  pur- 
suit, and  entreating  them  to  flee  for  their  lives. 
Some  made  haste  to  secrete  the  telltale  coach 
under  cover  of  Path  Woods,  while  Rev.  Mr, 
Marrett  conducted  the  patriots  by  a  devious 
way  through  the  woods  to  the  obscure  home  of 
Amos  Wyman,  in  a  distant  corner  of  the  town, 
where  it  borders  on  the  towns  of  Billerica  and 
Bedford. 

As  soon  as  the  immediate  fright  was  over, 
Messrs.  Hancock  and  Adams,  with  appetites 
whetted  to  a  keen  edge  by  the  morning  ride  and 
the  savory  smell  of  the  feast  left  so  suddenly, 
were  glad  to  eat  cold  boiled  salt  pork  and  pota- 
toes, with  rye  bread  from  a  wooden  tray  taken 
down  by  Mrs.  Wyman  from  a  shelf  above  the 
fireplace.  Strange  diet  indeed  for  these  people 
accustomed  to  the  best  the  market  afforded.  It 
was  all  the  variety  Mrs.  Wyman  had,  and  was 
given  cheerfully  to  guests  whose  like  she  had 
never  entertained  before.  Her  act  was  not  for- 
gotten. Like  the  widow  of  Zarephath,  who  fed 
the  prophet  E^lijah,  she  had  her  reward.  It  is 
said  that  John  Hancock  presented  her  with  a  cow, 


6o 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


when  the  affairs  of  the  colony  were  so  far  adjusted 

as  to  admit  of  outside  attention. 

The  alarm  that  drove  the  patriots 
from  the  Precinct  parsonage  proved 
to  be  false,  and  no  unwelcome  guest 
came  to  that  door  that  day. 

It  was  one  of  the  youthful  pleas- 
ures   of    Mr.    Sewall    of    the   pres- 
ent day,  to  accompany  his  honored 
father,  Rev.  Samuel   Sewall,  in 
his  old  age,  to  the  Hancock  man- 
sion an  Beacon  Hill,  Boston,  and 
there  listen  to  the  conversation 
witL  Madam  Scott,  the  "Doro- 
\     thy  Q."  of  1775.     An  allusion  to 
1     the    experience    related   always 
brought    a   smile   to    her    aged 
face,  and  recalled  her  aunt  whose 
name    she   bore,   and    of   whom 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  wrote  : 


Parsonage  Clock 


"Grandmother's  mother!     Her  age,  I  guess, 
Thirteen  summers,  or  something  less; 
Girlish  bust,  but  womanly  air; 
Smooth,  square  forehead,  with  uprolled  hair; 
Lips  that  lover  has  never  kissed; 
Taper  fingers,  and  slender  waist, 
Hanging  sleeves  of  stiff  brocade  — 
So  they  painted  the  little  maid. 


What  if  a  hundred  years  ago 

Those  close-shut  lips  had  answered  no, 


REED  HOME  6l 

When  forth  the  tremulous  question  came 
That  cost  the  maiden  her  Norman  name; 
And  under  the  folds  that  look  so  still 
The  bodice  swelled  with  the  bosom's  thrill? 
Should  I  be  I,  or  would  it  be 
One-tenth  another  to  nine-tenths  me?" 

There  is  another  house  in  Burlington  where  the 
scenes  of  April  19,  1775,  have  left  a  lasting  interest. 
It  is  the  — 

REED    HOME. 

Here  Hancock's  coach  halted  when  on  that 
memorable  trip  from  Lexington,  but  soon  has- 
tened on  with  its  company,  making  way  for  the 
British  prisoners  to  be  lodged  here.  At  this 
home  is  met  Mr.  Edward  Reed,  the  present  owner 
and  occupant.  He  was  preceded  in  the  possession 
by  his  father  and  grandfather,  both  named  James 
Reed.  "  In  this  room,"  said  Mr.  Reed  to  the 
writer,  "  the  prisoners  captured  at  Lexington  were 
held  in  custody.  My  grandfather  said,  '  I  was 
making  ready  to  go  over  to  Lexington  when  I 
saw  some  of  the  minute-men  coming  with  a  squad 
of  the  redcoats.  They  brought  them  here  to  my 
house,  and  gave  them  up  to  me,  informing  me  of 
the  affairs  at  Lexington.  I  could  not  then  go  on 
in  the  pursuit,  as  I  was  given  the  custody  of  those 
prisoners.  I  did  my  duty  faithfully,  treated  them 
well,  as  they  would  say  to-day  if  they  could  come 
around  ;  but  I  guess  they  would  not  want  to  run 
the  gantlet  of  the  Yankees  again.'  " 


62  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   VIII 

DIARY  OF    REV.  JOHN   MARRETT. —  DESCRIPTION  OF 

CAMP    BY    REV.    WILLIAM    EMERSON. ORIGIN    OF 

CONTINENTAL  ARMY, — JOURNAL  OF  JABEZ  FITCH 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Samuel  Sewall,  Esq., 
the  present  owner  of  the  Precinct  parsonage,  the 
following  extracts  are  made  from  the  interleaved 
almanacs  of  his  grandfather,  Rev.  John  Marrett. 

Some  notes  are  quoted  that  do  not  tend  to  show 
the  movements  of  the  patriots  altogether,  but  give 
light  on  the  customs  of  the  time. 

Jaiiuary  13,1775.  Moved  to  Woburn.  Board  at  Madam 
Jones'  for  40  s.  per  week,  and  keep  my  horse  myself. 

February  8.  Rode  to  Lexington.  Lodged  at  my  brother's 
last  night,  attended  lecture  at  Lexington ;  a  lecture  on  the 
times.  I  began  with  prayer.  Mr.  Gushing  preached  from 
P.salm  22:  "  He  is  the  Governor  among  the  Nations."  Mr. 
Glark  concluded  with  prayer. 

March  6.  Prayed  at  March  meeting.  Rode  to  Lexing- 
ton. 

March  7.  Lodged  last  niglit  at  Brother's.  Spent  day 
at  Lexington.  Attended  training  there.  At  night  rode 
home, 

March  21.     Training.     Viewed  arms. 

March  27.     Bottled  cider;   11  dozen  and  one  bottle. 

April  4.  (Tuesday.)  Rode  to  Wilmington  and  Reading. 
P.M.    Heard  Mr.  Stone  (of  Reading)  preach  a  sermon  to 


DIARY  OF  REV.  JOHN  MARRETT  63 

the  minute-men.  Returned  to  Wilmington ;  lodged  at  Mr. 
Morrill's,  (the  minister). 

April  8.  People  moving  out  of  Boston  on  account  of 
the  troops. 

April  9.  (Sunday.)  Mr.  Marston  came  up  from  Boston 
to  get  a  place  here  for  his  wife  and  children. 

April  19.  Fair,  windy  &  cold.  A  Distressing  day. 
About  800  Regulars  marched  from  Boston  to  Concord. 
As  they  went  up,  they  killed  8  men  at  Lexington  meeting- 
house; they  huzza'd  and  then  fired,  as  our  men  had  turned 
their  backs  (who  in  number  were  about  one  hundred)  ;  and 
then  they  proceeded  to  Concord.  The  adjacent  country  was 
alarmed  the  latter  part  of  the  night  preceding. 

The  action  at  Lexington  was  just  before  sunrise  [show- 
ing that  the  paster  kept  an  eye  on  all  military  preparations] . 
Our  men  pursued  them  to  and  from  Concord  on  their  retreat 
back ;  and  several  killed  on  both  sides,  but  much  the  least 
on  our  side,  as  we  pickt  them  off  on  their  retreat.  The  regu- 
lars were  reinforced  at  Lexington  to  aid  their  retreat  by 
800  with  two  field  pieces.  They  burnt  3  houses  in  Lex- 
ington, and  one  barn,  and  did  other  mischief  to  buildings. 
They  were  pursued  to  Charlestown,  where  they  entrenched 
on  a  hill  just  over  the  Neck.  Thus  commences  an  important 
period. 

April  20.  Rode  to  Lexington  and  saw  the  mischief  the 
Regulars  did,  and  returned  home. 

April  21.  Rode  to  Concord.  The  country  coming  in 
fast  to  our  help. 

April  22.  All  quiet  here.  Our  forces  gathered  at  Cam- 
bridge and  towns  about  Boston.  The  Regulars  removed 
from  Charlestown  to  Boston  day  before  yesterday. 

April  2},.  (Sunday.)  Preached  at  home.  Soldiers  travel- 
ing down  and  returning;  brought  their  arms  with  them  to 
meeting,  with  warlike  accoutrements.  A  dark  day.  In  the 
afternoon  service,  just  as  service  was  ended,  Doctor  Blodget 
came  in   for  the  people   to  go  with    their  teams   to   bring 


64  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

provisions  from  Marblehead  out  of  the  way  of  the  Men  of 
war.     Considerable  number  at  meeting. 

April  24.  Packing  up  my  most  valuable  effects  to  be 
ready  to  move  on  any  sudden  occasion. 

April  2'^.  Rode  to  Cambridge.  Our  forces  very  numer- 
ous there.     Lodged  at  Richard  Clark's,  Watertown. 

April  26.  Returned  home  via  Lexington.  Many  houses 
on  the  road  pillaged  by  the  Regulars  between  Lexington  and 
Charlestown. 

April  27.  Josiah  Ouincy  arrived  this  week  from  England 
and  died  at  Cape  Ann. 

May  II.  Fast  day.  Preached  at  Reading  in  exchange 
for  Mr.  Haven.     Rode  to  Medford. 

May  12.  Lodged  last  night  at  Captain  Brooks,  Medford. 
Rode  through  Cambridge  to  Dorchester.  Surveyed  the 
situation  of  our  forces. 

May  17.  Saw  about  g  o'clock  p.m.  a  great  fire  towards 
Boston.  Went  up  a  hill  and  saw  the  blaze.  Just  before  the 
fire  heard  a  great  noise. 

May  18.  The  fire  last  night  was  in  Boston.  Burnt  a 
number  of  stores.     It  began  in  one  of  the  barracks. 

May  23.  Last  Sabbath  our  people  destroyed  a  quantity 
of  hay  at  Weymouth  which  the  Regulars  attempted  to  get 
to  Boston.  Some  firing  on  both  sides,  but  have  not  heard 
that  any  were  killed. 

May  27.  (Sunday.)  All  day  and  in  the  night  heard  the 
cannon  at  Boston.  A  skirmish,  I  .suppose,  between  the 
troops  under  General  Gage  and  our  forces.  Heard  the  can- 
non in  time  of  service  a.m.,  and  hear  our  forces  have  burnt 
a  tender  to  a  man  of  war,  this  morning,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mistick  River,  and  that  they  from  yesterday,  p.m.  to  to-day, 
were  firing  at  each  other. 

May  31.  Rode  to  Watertown.  Dr.  Langdon  preached 
to  the  Congress  from  Is.  i  :  28,  (and  the  destruction  of  the 
transgressors  and  of  the  sinners  shall  be  together,  and  they 
that  forsake  the  Lord  shall  be  consumed). 


DIARY  OF  REV.  JOHN  MARRETT  65 

yune  I.  Rode  to  Watertown.  Heard  Mr.  Stevens 
preach  Convention  sermon.     Rode  to  Cambridge  and  home. 

Jiitie  ID.  Mr.  Marston  and  wife  and  children  moved 
from  Boston  here. 

June  16.  Mr.  Marston,  of  Boston,  arrived  here.  He 
escaped  in  a  fishing  boat. 

June  17.     Fair  and  very  warm  and  Dry'g  at  home. 

Jutie  18.  S  [Sunday]  fair  and  very  warm  at  noon  a  little 
Sprinkl'g  of  rain  and  p.m.  Sun  clouded,  preached  at  home 
very  thin  meet'g  ye  men  gone  down  to  ye  army  on  ye  alarm 
yesterday,  last  night  3000  of  our  army  went  to  Charlestown 
and  entrenched  on  a  Hill.  But  before  yy  had  prepared  yir 
cann  ye  Shipp'g  and  ye  regulars  by  land  attacked  yur  and 
after  much  fight'g  we  were  obliged  to  quite  ye  Entrenchment 
and  ye  town,  many  killed  and  wounded,  on  both  sides,  ye 
Shipp'g  annoied  us  much ;  the  town  laid  in  Ashes ;  ye  ad- 
jacent Country  gone  down.  Abt  1000  of  ye  regulars  killed 
and  wounded  not  more  yan  200  killed  of  ours,  abt  50  of  our 
men  killed  and  29  taken  prisoners  and  70  or  80  wounded, 
a  1000  of  our  Enemies  killed  and  wounded  among  wch  are 
many  officers  84. 

J7i7ie  20.  Rode  to  Watertown  and  Cambridge  and  viewed 
the  intrenchments  of  our  army  between  Cambridge  and 
Charlestown  and  returned  home. 

June  24.  P.M.  Just  heard  that  our  army  had  entrenched 
last  night  nearer  the  enemy  on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  that  the 
enemy  this  morning  appeared  with  their  horse  in  battle  array 
and  in  readiness  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  by  Charlestown 
Neck  to  drive  our  forces  away;  but  after  a  while  they  with- 
drew. The  heavy  cannon  are  now  playing,  the  firing  is 
smart  and  very  plainly  heard. 

July  I.  Heard  the  firing  of  some  cannon  which  were 
at  Roxbury  neck. 

July  2.  (Sunday.)  A  great  deal  of  firing  below.  It  be- 
gan about  daybreak  and  continued  till  7  o'clock.  Heard  it 
was  at  Roxbury  neck. 


66  BENEATH  OLD   ROOE   TREES 

ynly  13.  Last  night  lodged  at  Watertown,  and  rode  to 
Roxbury,  Cambridge,  and  to  Prospect  and  Winter  Hills, 
viewed  the  forts  and  entrenchments,  well  executed  and 
strong.  Prayed  in  evening  with  Colonel  Gerrish's  regiment 
and  returned  home. 

July  20.  A  general  fast  appointed  through  British 
America  by  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia. 

ynly  22.  At  Cambridge.  At  evening  prayed  in  the 
army.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Jesse  Wyman  aged  21,  living 
in  the  old  parish,  mortally  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Charles- 
town. 

July  23.  Sunday.  Last  night  lodged  at  Mr.  Tappan's. 
A.M.  Preached  in  the  army.  P.M.  Some  rain  which  prevented 
preaching. 

July  26.  Attended  the  funeral  of  George  Reed,  jun.,  who 
died  of  a  fever,  which  was  occasioned  by  a  surfeit  of  heat  he 
got  in  Charlestown  fight  the  17th  inst. 

August  4.  Rode  to  Bedford  and  returned.  On  return 
called  and  prayed  with  Bacon's  family,  very  sick,  and  also 
visited  and  prayed  with  Capt.  Walker's  son. 

August  28.  Master  Hutchinson  of  Boston  lodged  here. 
To-day  I  rode  to  Lexington,  dined  at  brother's  and  returned. 

September  12.  Rode  to  Cambridge,  and  viewed  the 
camps  and  forts,  and  returned  at  night.  Boston  is  hedged 
in  on  every  side  but  the  water. 

September  24.     (Sunday.)     Put  on  coarse,  linen  shirt. 

October  2.  Visited  the  sick  and  catechised  the  children 
present,  24. 

October  18.  Messrs.  Wigglesworth  and  Gannett  dined 
here. 

October  22.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Capt.  Marstons's 
child.i 

^  Belonged  to  a  Boston  family,  probably  related  to  Mrs.  Jones. 
They  had  sought  refuge  in  Burlington  during  the  siege.  A  little 
gravestone  in  old  burial-ground  says,  "  While  British  forces  held 
his  native  town." 


DIARY  OF  REV.  JOHN  MARRETT  67 

October  24.  Rode  from  Watertown  to  Cambridge,  viewed 
the  camps  and  returned  home. 

November  i .  Rode  to  Concord.  Attended  the  Dudleian 
Lecture.  Dr.  Langdon  (President  of  Harvard  College) 
preached  from  Micah  4:  5.     Subject  natural  religion. 1 

November  g.  Cannon  fired  much  from  12  to  3  o'clock; 
about  400  or  500  Regulars  landed  on  Lechmere's  Point  and 
carried  off  i  cow.  They  were  soon  drove  off  by  a  party  of 
our  soldiers.  We  lost  i  man  killed,  and  i  mortally  wounded. 
What  they  lost,  cannot  tell. 

A'ovember  21.     President  Langdon  came  here. 

November  30.  Attended  three  funerals  in  my  Parish,  viz.. 
Widow  Speer ;  a  child  of  Abraham  Alexander's  ;  and  a  child 
of  Mr.  Peters's  of  Wilmington,  which  died  here;  and  mar- 
ried a  couple. 

December  5.  Rode  to  Cambridge  and  back.  Hear  Que- 
bec is  taken  by  the  Provincials. 

December  17.  (Sunday).  Heard  several  cannon  fired. 
Our  people  a  raising  a  covert  way  from  Prospect  to  Cobble 
Hill,  and  the  enemy  endeavoring  to  prevent  them. 

December  18.  The  firing  yesterday  was  at  Lechmere's 
Point,  our  people  entrenching  there.  A  ship  that  had  lain 
up  the  River  all  summer  moved  off  this  morning. 

December  20.  Fair,  and  the  coldest  day  this  season.  At 
home.     Heard  several  cannon  fired. 

December  23,  p.m.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Gardner, 
leather  dresser,  formerly  of  Charlestown ;  he  died  in  the 
other  parish. 

Decej/iber  27.  Attended  the  funeral  of  Madam  Temple, 
late  of  Charlestown,  who  died  at  Captain  Johnson's ;   and 

^  The  American  army  occupied  for  barracks  the  buildings  of 
Harvard  College  at  Cambridge,  and  the  institution  removed  to 
Concord,  remaining  there  nearly  a  year.  It  held  its  exercises  in 
the  Court-House,  its  students  and  professors  living  in  various  fami- 
lies of  the  town.  The  Commencement  exercises  of  1776  were  held 
in  the  old  meeting-house  of  Concord. 


6S  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

married  Josiah  Locke  to  Elizabeth  Richardson,  both  of 
Woburn  Old  Parish. i 

December  29.  Rode  to  Cambridge  and  returned,  and 
lodged  at  Jonathan  Carter's.  Last  night  our  forces  arranged 
to  attack  Bunker  Hill  over  the  ice  on  the  mill  pond,  but  the 
ice  was  not  strong  enough,  and  therefore  they  desisted. 

December  30.     Many  cannon  fired.     Returned  home  a.m. 

January  10,  1776.  Called  about  break  of  day  to  visit 
Capt.  Wood's  wife,  being  sick. 

January  18.  Cannon  fired  much.  Heard  our  army  is 
defeated  at  Quebec. 

Jatiuary  22.     Evening.     Singing  meeting  here. 

January  23.  Rode  to  Cambridge,  and  viewed  the  lines, 
and  returned  home.  Deacon  Johnson  and  wife  went  with 
me. 

January  2,^.  Eight  men  enlisted  out  of  this  parish  for 
two  months. 

February    2.     Heard  several  cannon. 

February  12.  Heard  many  cannon.  Supposed  to  be 
below  Boston  at  sea. 

February  14.  Last  night  the  enemy  burned  some  houses 
and  barns  on  Dorchester  neck. 

February  28.  Mr.  Stone,  of  Reading,  and  Mr.  Jacob 
Gould,  of  Weymouth,  dined  with  me.  Sent  my  watch  by 
Mr.  Gould  to  Braintree,  to  Mr.  Cranch's  to  be  mended. 

March  3.  (Sunday  p.m.)  Master  Coggin  preached  from 
2  Cor.  5  :  10.  People  in  great  anxiety  about  some  important 
transactions  speedily  to  take  place  between  our  army  and  the 
enemy's  forces. 

March  4.  Last  night,  from  eight  in  the  evening  till  the 
morning,  the  cannon  and  mortars  between  our  army  and  the 
enemy  fired  more  or  less ;  and  to-day  were  firing  more  or 
less,  till  between  12  o'clock  and  one,  a  general  battle  or  a 

^  These  deaths  of  Charlestown  people  suggest  how  they  were 
scattered  about,  after  the  burning  of  the  town  by  the  British. 


DIARY  OF  REV.  JOHN-  MARRETT  69 

very  smart  skirmish,  ensued,  as  I  judge,  from  the  report  of 
small  arms  and  cannon.  The  Regulars  had  a  mock  fight 
in  Boston.  Visited  Lieut,  Tidd's  sick  children.  My  people 
collecting  rags,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

March  5.  Last  night  the  mortars  and  cannon  played 
very  fast  most  all  night  from  both  sides,  and  our  army 
entrenched  on  Dorchester  Hill  without  any  molestation. 
Rode  to  Cambridge. 

March    6.     Lodged  at  Cambridge.     Returned  home. 

March  10.  (Sunday.)  Last  night  our  forces  intrenched 
on  another  hill  on  Dorchester  Point,  nearer  to  Boston ;  a 
smart  firing  ensued  on  both  sides.  We  lost  about  12  men. 
At  first  we  were  drove  off,  but  by  a  reinforcement  carried  on 
and  completed  the  work.     \Not  true.'] 

March  ii.  Visited  Mr.  Spear,  being  sick,  and  prayed  at 
parish  meeting.     Hear  the  small-pox  is  at  Welch's. 

March  18.  Yesterday  morning,  about  break  of  day,  the 
British  troops  evacuated  Bunker  Hill  and  Boston,  and  all 
shipping  moved  off  and  lay  windbound  below  the  Castle, 
whither  bound,  know  not,  —  but  it  is  conjectured  to  Halifax 
to  wait  on  orders  from  Great  Britain.  Our  forces  have 
taken  possession  of  all  the  places  they  have  left.  The  Lord 
be  praised !     Last  night  we  intrenched  on  Dorchester  Point. 

March  19.  Dined  at  Timothy  Winn's,  p.m.  Rode  to 
Old  Parish  and  attended  Mr.  Pool's  funeral.  Mr.  Morrill  and 
1  prayed  with  the  sick  woman,  Mrs.  Pool.  Hear  that  below 
the  Castle  the  ships  are  arrived  to  the  fleet  of  the  enemy 
which  lies  below. 

March  20.  Rode  to  Charlestown  Ferry,  and  viewed  Bun- 
ker Hill,  the  works  of  the  enemy,  and  the  ruins  of  the  town. 
The  fleet  lays  below  the  Castle.  Returned  home  via  Cam- 
bridge. 

March  21.  A  great  fire  last  evening  at  the  Castle,  the 
enemy  demolishing  it.  Rode  to  Old  Parish  to  see  Mrs.  Pool, 
stck. 

April   2.     Attended  funeral  of  Nathaniel  Wyman. 


^0  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

April  5.  Attended  funeral  of  Daniel  Simonds  and  his 
wife,  two  aged  persons  in  Lexington. 

April  19.  Rode  to  Lexington;  dined  at  Brother's,  p.m. 
Attended  a  lecture  in  commemoration  of  Lexington  Battle. 
Mr.  Clark  performed  the  whole  exercise  ;  preached  from  Joel, 
3d  chapter,  the  last  verses ;  a  very  crowded  audience ;  tlie 
militia  companies  in  Lexington  mustered.     Returned  home. 

April  23.  Rode  to  Boston  and  returned  home.  First 
time  I  have  been  to  Boston  since  the  enemy  evacuated  it. 

May  3.  Mr,  Thurston,  a  preacher  in  the  other  Parish, 
visited  me. 

May  5.  (Sunday.)  Rode  to  Concord  and  preached  on 
an  exchange  with  Mr.  Emerson. 

May    6.     Lodged  last  night  at  Doctor  Minot's. 

May  16.  Attended  the  funeral  of  George  Reed's  negro 
woman. 

May  17.  A  Continental  Fast;  preached  at  home,  a  full 
meeting. 

May  20.  Hear  a  large  brig  loaded  with  warlike  stores 
was  taken  by  us  from  the  enemy,  as  she  was  coming  into 
Boston  Harbor. 

Ju7ie  I.  Hear  our  forces  at  Quebec  "have  been  driven 
from  their  intrenchments,  and  renewed  the  attack  afterwards, 
being  reinforced,  and  recovered  their  lost  ground. 

Jji7ie  3.  Went  to  the  Castle  with  Woburn  militia  to 
intrench. 

June  4.  Lodged  last  night  at  Roxbury.  This  morning 
sailed  from  Boston  to  the  Castle ;  intrenched  all  day.  p.m. 
Returned  home  with  the  militia. 

June  15.  Night  before  last,  5,000  of  our  people  went 
down  and  intrenched  on  an  island  and  another  place  in  Bos- 
ton Harbor,  and  yesterday  morning  drove  all  the  enemy's 
ships  down  below  the  lighthouse.  A  50-gun  sliip  was 
obliged  to  cut  her  cable,  and  be  towed  down  by  boats,  etc. 
June  ij.  Visited  Amos  Wyman,  being  sick.  (The  hus- 
band of  her  who  entertained  Hancock  and  Adams.) 


DIARY  OF  REV.  JOHN  MARRETT  7 1 

June  18.     Attended  txaining.i 

June  z^.  Exceeding  hot;  the  hottest  —  very  dry  and 
melancholy  time. 

June  29.  Exceeding  hot  and  scorching,  and  burning  sun. 
The  land  mourning  by  reason  of  the  dearth. 

July    2,  1776.     Independency. 

July  3.  Lecture  on  account  of  the  drought  and  war; 
Mr.  Penniman  (of  Bedford)  preached  from  Psalm  39 :  9. 

July  4.  Attend  Lecture  at  Bedford ;  Mr.  Emerson  (of 
Concord)   prayed  and  preached.     I  made  last  prayer. 

July  6.  Small-pox  in  Boston,  inoculating  there.  Ten 
men,  of  the  fifteen,  enlisted  out  of  this  parish  for  the  expedi- 
tion to  Canada;  5,000  to  be  raised  from  this  province  for 
New  York  and  Canada. 

July  14.  (Sunday.)  Preached  at  Bedford.  Mr.  Sprague 
preached  for  me,  and  Mr.  Penniman  for  him,  at  Carlisle. 
Five  o'clock  p.m.  Preached  at  lecture,  at  home,  to  a  party 
of  soldiers  going  on  the  Canada  expedition. 

July  15.  Visited  Amos  Wyman,  sick  in  deep  consump- 
tion. 

July  18.  P.M.  Rode  to  Lexington  and  back  ;  my  brother 
and  two  of  his  sons  and  eighteen  others  inoculated  last  week 
in  his  own  house  for  the  small-pox. 

July  24.  Hear  the  enemy's  ships  are  destroyed  by  a 
tempest  at  South  Carolina ;  two  40-gun  ships,  one  50-gun 
ship,  and  a  tender  and  a  transport  lost ;  and  all  the  men 
perished. 

July  25.  Woburn  company  of  soldiers  for  the  Canada 
expedition  marclied  for  Crown  Point.  Prayed  with  them  at 
Deacon  Blanchard's. 

^  The  acquaintance  of  the  president  of  Harvard  College  with 
the  Precinct  clergyinan  doubtless  accounts  for  the  removal  of 
college  property  to  his  parish,  as  an  old  paper  bears  evidence. 
Deacon  Joseph  Johnson  was  intrusted  with  two  hogsheads  of 
books,  one  large  box  containing  glass,  two  boxes  containing  a 
pair  of  globes,  one  large  pack  of  carpets. 


72  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

July  29.  Visited  young  Mr.  Nevers  and  Mr.  Amos 
Wyman,  being  sick. 

August  I.     Provincial  Fast.    Exchanged  with  Mr.  Morrill, 

August  23.  The  enemy  landed  on  Long  Island,  New 
York. 

August  24  and  25.     Fight  at  New  York,  Long  Island. 

September  7.  Hear  our  forces  are  beat  off  from  Long 
Island,  at  New  York,  and  that  four  boats  full  of  men  in  com- 
ing away  were  taken  prisoners. 

September  15.  (Sunday).  Read  the  Declaration  for  In- 
dependency. 

Septetnber  25.  Attended  Dudleian  Lecture  at  Cambridge. 
Mr.  Morrill,  of  Wilmington,  preached.  Subject,  Revealed 
religion,  from  i  Peter  3  :  15.  (Harvard  College  back  in  its 
old  quarters.) 

October  6.  (Sunday.)  Uncle  Dunster  and  his  wife  kept 
Sabbath  here. 

October  13.  (Sunday.)  Preached  at  Old  Parish  on  ex- 
change with  Mr.  Jones.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Concord,  died 
at  Otter  Creek. 

October  26.     Rode  to  Stow. 

October  I'j.     (Sunday.)  Preached  at  Stow  on  an  exchange. 

October  28.  Rode  to  Lancaster  and  returned  to  Stow ; 
lodged  at  Deacon  Gates'. 

October  29.  Returned  home.  Heard  (that)  Mr.  Emerson, 
of  Concord,  died  at  Otter  Creek  (the)  13th  inst. 

November  16.     Fort  Washington  taken. 

November  21.  Lodged  last  night  at  College.  Rode  to 
Boston  and  returned  home. 

December  9.  Hear  a  fleet  of  the  enemy's  ships  are  seen 
off  Rhode  Island. 

December  12.     Thanksgiving.     First  snow,  2  inches. 

December  \i.  Dined  at  Samuel  Reed's  Jr.'s ;  General 
Lee  taken  prisoner  by  treachery. 

December  18.  General  Howe  marching  towards  Philadel- 
phia.    General  Washington  before,  and  General  Lee  behind. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  CAMP  73 

The  condition  of  the  patriots'  camp  at  Cam- 
bridge, visited  by  Rev.  John  Marrett,  is  best  de- 
scribed by  the  Concord  minister,  Rev.  William 
Emerson,  in  a  letter  written  by  him  when  serving 
as  a  chaplain.  It  was  a  few  days  after  the  arrival 
of  Washington  as  commander-in-chief. 

"  New  lords,  new  laws.  The  generals,  Washington  and 
Lee,  are  upon  the  lines  every  day.  New  orders  from  his 
excellency  are  read  to  the  respective  regiments  every  morn- 
ing after  prayers.  The  strictest  government  is  taking  place, 
and  great  distinction  is  made  between  officers  and  soldiers. 
Every  one  is  made  to  know  his  place,  and  keep  in  it,  or  to 
be  tied  up  and  receive  thirty  or  forty  lashes,  according  to  his 
crime.  Thousands  are  at  work  every  day  from  four  till  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  is  surprising  how  much  work  has 
been  done.  The  lines  are  extended  almost  from  Cambridge 
to  the  M\stic  River ;  so  that  very  soon  it  will  be  morally 
impossible  for  the  enemy  to  get  between  the  works  except 
in  one  place,  which  is  supposed  to  be  left  purposely  unforti- 
fied, to  entice  the  enemy  out  of  their  fortress.  Who  would 
have  thought,  twelve  months  past,  that  all  Cambridge  and 
Charlestown  would  be  covered  over  with  American  camps, 
and  cut  up  into  forts  and  intrenchments ;  and  all  the  lands, 
fields,  and  orchards  laid  common  ;  horses  and  cattle  feeding 
in  the  choicest  mowing  land ;  whole  fields  of  corn  eaten 
down  to  the  ground ;  and  large  parks  of  well-regulated 
locusts  cut  down  for  firewood  and  other  public  uses?  This, 
I  must  say,  looks  a  little  melancholy.  My  quarters  are  at 
the  foot  of  the  famous  Prospect  Hill,  where  such  prepara- 
tions are  made  for  the  reception  of  the  enemy.  It  is  very 
diverting  to  walk  among  the  camps,  they  are  as  different  in 
their  forms  as  the  owners  are  in  their  dress,  and  every  tent 
is  a  portraiture  of  the  temper  and  taste  of  the  persons  who 
encamp  in  it.     Some  are  made  of  boards,  and  some  of  sail- 


74  BENEATH  OLD  ROOE   TREES 

cloth;  some  partly  of  one  and  partly  of  the  other;  again, 
others  are  made  of  stone  or  turf,  brick  or  brush.  Some  are 
thrown  up  in  a  hurry ;  others  are  curiously  wrought  with 
doors  and  windows,  done  with  wreaths  and  withes,  in  the 
manner  of  a  basket.  Some  are  your  proper  tents  and  mar- 
quees, looking  like  the  regular  camp  of  the  enemy.  In  these 
are  the  Rhode  Islanders,  who  are  furnished  with  tent 
equipage  and  everything  in  the  most  exact  English  style. 
However,  I  think  this  great  variety  rather  a  beauty  than  a 
blemish  in  the  army." 

Fearing  that  some  of  my  readers  may  be  doubt- 
ful in  regard  to  the  correct  distinction  between 
the  Provincial  troops  and  the  Continental  army, 
and  in  regard  to  the  time  when  the  former  were 
merged  into  the  latter,  I  insert  the  following  gen- 
eral order  issued  on  the  4th  of  July,  1775,  the 
day  after  Washington  took  command  of  the  army. 

"The  Continental  Congress  having  now  taken  all  the 
troops  of  the  several  colonies,  which  have  been  raised,  or 
which  may  be  hereafter  raised  for  the  support  and  defence  of 
the  liberties  of  America,  into  their  pay  and  service,  they 
are  now  tlie  troops  of  the  United  Provinces  of  North  Amer- 
ica ;  and  it  is  hoped  that  all  distinction  of  colonies  will  be 
laid  aside,  so  that  one  and  the  same  spirit  may  animate  the 
whole,  and  the  only  contest  be,  who  shall  render,  on  this 
great  and  trying  occasion,  the  most  essential  service  to  the 
great  and  common  cause  in  which  we  are  all  engaged.  It  is 
required  and  expected  that  exact  discipline  be  observed,  and 
due  subordination  prevail  through  the  whole  army,  as  a 
failure  in  these  most  essential  points  must  necessarily  pro- 
duce extreme  hazard,  disorder,  and  confusion,  and  end  in 
shameful  disappointment  and  disgrace. 

"  The  general  most  earnestly  requires  and  expects  a  due 


JOURNAL    OF  JABEZ  FITCH  75 

observance  of  those  articles  of  war,  established  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  army,  wiiich  forbid  profane  cursing,  swear- 
ing, and  drunkenness ;  and  in  like  manner,  he  requires  and 
expects  of  all  officers  and  soldiers,  not  engaged  on  actual 
duty,  a  punctual  attendance  on  divine  service,  to  implore  the 
blessings  of  Heaven  upon  the  means  used  for  our  safety  and 
defence." 

A  vivid  picture  of  the  movements  of  the  pa- 
triots, while  encamped  at  Cambridge  and  Rox- 
bury,  is  seen  in  a  journal  from  Aug.  5  to  Dec. ' 

13.  1775- 

It  was  kept  by  Jabez  Fitch,  Jun.,  of  Norwich,  of 
the  Eighth  Company  (Captain  Joseph  Jewett's), 
in  the  Eighth  Connecticut  Regiment  (Colonel 
Jedidiah  Huntington's),  at  the  siege  of  Boston. 
He  first  describes  the  journey  to  join  the  Pro- 
vincial army. 

Saturday,  Aug*.  5.  1775.  Came  from  (home)  a  little 
after  sunrise.  Joined  the  company  at  Tyler's  in  Preston, 
from  whence  we  marched ;  about  8  o'clock  made  a  little  halt 
at  Deac"  Belcher's  where  we  were  handsomely  treated,  and 
after  resting  a  little  we  march'd,  and  at  the  same  time  Mr. 
Edwards  and  my  boys  went  back. 

7th.  After  breakfast  we  march'd  into  town  (Providence) 
where  we  made  a  small  halt,  got  shav'd,  and  did  some  other 
errands,  and  march'd  forward  to  Attleborough,  where  we 
now  are  at  Daggefs,  the  tavern  (they  say  he's  a  Tory),  but, 
however,  we  have  got  a  dinner  a-cooking,  and  intend  to  eat 
it.  I  was  afterwards  disappointed,  there  not  being  enough 
for  the  whole.  .  .  .  Parson's  reg't  overtook  us,  and  after 
drinking  some  puncli  we  march'd  on,  and  at  about  sunset 
arriv'd   at    Man's   in  Wrentham,  where  we  met  with  much 


^6  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

difficulty  to  procure  a  supper,  after  which  I  went  to  bed  with 
my  son,  and  slept  very  well. 

August  8th,  1775.  ^"^  the  morning  we  ate  breakfast  at 
Man's,  after  which  we  march'd  forward  to  Head's  in  Wal- 
pole,  where  we  drank  some  punch  and  marched  forward  to 
Cheney's  in  Walpole,  where  our  men  are  now  cooking  a 
dinner.  .  .  .  After  dinner  we  marched  forward  to  Gay's 
where  we  made  a  little  stop  and  Capt.  Wheat  overtook 
us  from  Norwich  ;  then  we  marched  on  so  far  as  Ames'  in 
Dedham,  where  we  lodged  in  a  very  good  bed  and  paid  well 
for  it. 

9th.  In  the  morning  I  walked  down  to  the  burying  place 
below  the  meeting-house.  I  also  see  about  300  riflemen  pass 
by  Ames'  —  we  also  went  by  them  at  Whiting's,  and  marched 
into  Roxbury  before  them.  We  arrived  at  the  sign  of  the 
sun  about  11  o'clock,  where  the  company  staid  till  next  day. 

This  night  was  the  first  of  Cordilla  and  I  lodging  like  sol- 
diers, we  having  hitherto  on  our  march  lodg'd  in  good  beds, 
tho'  it  cost  us  dear,  but  now  we  are  come  where  money  will 
not  readily  command  all  the  conveniences  of  life.  Yet 
through  the  clemency  of  a  Divine  Providence  every  one  in 
health  may  be  in  some  measure  comfortable. 

The  loth.  Sometime  before  noon  we  marched  on  to  the 
ground  assigned  us  for  incampment.  Capt.  Riley's  Com- 
pany was  the  only  one  incamped  before  us.  The  rest  of  this 
day  taken  up  in  pitching  our  tents,  etc.  The  night  follow- 
ing was  very  stormy;  it  thundered,  lightened  and  rained  all 
night,  and  was  very  tedious  for  the  first  of  the  campaign. 

The  nth.  In  the  morning  Lt.  Jona.  Brewster  and  Jo. 
Williams  came  to  our  tent.  I  was  with  'em  over  to  Parsons' 
reg't,  where  we  lit  of  Capt.  Wheat,  and  went  up  to  the  meet- 
ing-house and  see  the  guard  relieved,  then  went  with  them, 
Sergt.  Haskel  and  Corpl.  Brewster,  down  to  Dorchester,  and 
after  obtaining  liberty  of  Col.  Fellows  went  over  on  to  the 
Neck  and  down  on  to  the  Lower  Point  near  Castle  Wm. 
While  on  Dorchester  Neck  we  had  a  very  fine  prospect  of 


JOURNAL    OF  /ABE Z  FITCH  7/ 

the  town   of  Boston  and  also  of  the  ships  in  the  harbor, 
which  make  an  appearance  hke  a  dry  cedar  swamp. 

The  I2th.  In  the  morning  I  went  down  to  see  the  guards 
reHeved,  and  then  went  out  on  the  left  hand  of  the  neck  down 
on  to  the  marsh  where  I  had  a  fine  prospect  of  the  Common 
in  Boston,  where  the  regulars  are  incamped.  About  one 
o'clock  Asa  Chapman  came  here  for  some  things  I  bro't 
him  from  his  grandfather.  Cordilla  and  I  went  with  him  up 
to  Brookline  Fort  and  on  our  way  lit  of  one  Lt.  Sprague  of 
the  Rhode  Islanders  with  whom  we  crossed  the  ferry  and 
went  up  to  Prospect  Hill.  .  .  .  Cordilla  and  I  then  came 
back  to  Cambridge,  went  into  one  of  the  colleges  up  to  the 
3d  loft,  and  after  viewing  that  a  little  came  down  street  a 
little  where  we  see  the  greatest  curiosity  of  the  whole  day 
(viz.)  an  old  gent  with  a  very  gray  beard  14  inches  long 
handsomely  comb'd  down  under  his  chin.  .  .  .  After  cross- 
ing the  ferry  came  home  to  our  camp  where  we  arrived 
about  daylight  in.  The  old  Tory  dog  had  got  away  the 
door  I  stole  to  lodge  on. 

14.  At  prayer  time  in  the  morning  the  regulars  in  Bos- 
ton and  also  the  ships  in  the  harbor  began  a  mighty  firing 
which  lasted  most  of  the  forenoon. 

1 6th.  After  breakfast  I  took  a  walk  up  to  Brookline 
cedar  swamp,  where  I  found  me  a  very  pretty  cedar  staff.  I 
came  back  through  an  orchard  back  of  Genl.  Ward's  quar- 
ters, where  the  inhabitants  were  gathering  pears,  and  while 
I  was  talking  with  the  people  the  regulars  fired  two  shot  on 
our  new  intrenchment,  on  which  I  hurried  a  little  toward 
home,  but  the  fire  not  continuing  I  made  a  little  stop  at  an 
intrenchment  just  above  a  grist  mill.  I  then  went  up  toward 
the  Grand  Parade,  where  I  lit  of  Rant  Rose,  and  went  with 
him  to  see  the  Indians  shoot  arrows  at  coppers. 

The  1 8th.  In  the  morning  early  I  went  up  to  Governor 
Bernard's  house  with  Corp.  Spears  and  Cordilla  to  get  some 
timber  for  repairing  our  tent,  and  it  was  with  some  difficulty 
that  I  obtained  it. 


y8  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Sunday,  Augt.  20,  1775.  ...  I  went  up  to  the  old 
meeting-house,  where  I  wrote  several  of  the  foregoing  pages, 
and  am  now  writing  on  the  breast  of  the  front  gallery,  which 
is  a  very  convenient  place  for  writing.  It  is  a  very  large 
house  with  a  high  steeple.  It  stands  on  an  eminence  in  fair 
view  of  the  regulars'  lines,  and  has  had  many  balls  thrown  at 
it.  The  bell  is  taken  down,  the  windows  all  taken  out  and 
boarded  up  except  the  pulpit  window,  the  pews  all  torn 
down,  and  great  destruction  made  inside  of  the  house. 


OLD   MANSE   OF  CONCORD  79 


CHAPTER   IX 

OLD     MANSE     OF     CONCORD    AND     ITS     MINISTERIAL 
OCCUPANTS.  CUPID    IN    THE    REVOLUTION 

The  foregoing  extracts  from  the  parsonage 
diary,  yet  extant,  afford  the  reader,  not  only  a 
glimpse  into  the  busy  life  of  the  minister,  but  also 
present  a  realistic  view  of  the  burdens  and  anxie- 
ties of  the  patriots  during  the  time  that  the  seat 
of  war  was  confined  to  Massachusetts.  He  has 
seen  the  intimacy  between  neighboring  ministers, 
and  noted  the  hospitality  of  the  parsonage.  He 
has  become  particularly  interested  in  the  minister 
of  Concord,  Rev.  William  Emerson,  and  is  pre- 
pared to  turn  to  another  parsonage,  and  there  con- 
sider the  footsteps  of  the  patriots  as  they  centre 
about  the  — 

OLD    MANSE, 

Here,  as  at  the  Burlington  parsonage,  a  digres- 
sion is  made  to  consider  the  history  of  the  place. 

Probably  no  other  homestead  of  New  England 
supplies  the  warp  and  woof  of  such  a  brilliant 
fabric  of  history  as  the  old  manse  of  Concord. 

The  green  lawn  that  extends  in  front  and  on 
either  side  of   the  manse  was  once  the  site  of 


80  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

an  Indian  village,  evidence  of  which,  in  the  line 
of  arrows  and  spear-heads,  the  searching  plough- 
share has  often  brought  to  light. 

The  village  was  abandoned,  and  the  scattered 
remnant  of  the  tribe  had  built  their  wigwams 
elsewhere,  before  the  sale  of  the  "  six  miles 
square"  by  Squaw  Sachem  and  others  to  the 
"English  undertakers." 

The  site  of  the  old  Indian  village  was  included 
within  the  twelve  lots  of  six  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  recorded  as  belonging  to  James  Blood,  Sen. 
and  Jun.,  in  1665. 

The  Bloods  are  said  to  have  come  to  Concord 
in  1639.  James  Sen.  died  in  1683,  and  his  wife 
Ellen  nine  years  earlier.  James  Blood,  Jun.,  mar- 
ried Hannah,  daughter  of  Oliver  Purchiss  of 
Lynn,  in  1657.  They  lived  in  a  primitive  dwell- 
ing on  these  acres,  and  had  four  children,  only 
one  of  whom,  Sarah,  survived  her  parents. 

James  Blood,  Jun.,  was  the  fourth  deacon  in  the 
Concord  church ;  he  died  Nov.  26,  1692,  having 
outlived  his  wife  fifteen  years. 

Sarah  Blood,  who  was  born  March  5,  1659,  """^r- 
ried  William  Willson  of  Concord  in  1686,  and  at 
the  death  of  her  father  succeeded  to  the  owner- 
ship of  the  estate.  He  was  town  clerk  from  1710 
to  1718  ;  was  chosen  one  of  the  selectmen  in 
1700,  and  held  the  ofifice  eighteen  years;  was 
representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1702,  and 
in  seven  subsequent  years.     His  wife  Sarah  died 


OLD  MANSE   OF  CONCORD  8 1 

in   1 71 7,  and  he  in   1745,  leaving  a  second  wife, 
Hannah  Price. 

The  property  remained  in  the  family  until 
about  the  time  of  the  death  of  Rev.  Daniel  Bliss, 
the  associate  of  Whitefield  and  other  ardent 
preachers,  which  occurred  in  May,  1764.  It  was 
then  purchased  by  the  Bliss  family. 

The  solemn  pomp  and  funereal  splendor  at- 
tendant upon  the  burial  of  Rev.  Daniel  Bliss  was 
still  a  theme  for  conversation,  and  the  people 
were  enjoying  a  sort  of  mournful  satisfaction 
because  they  had  maintained  their  dignity  among 
the  towns  and  churches  by  furnishing  rings  and 
gloves  at  the  funeral  of  their  deceased  minister, 
and  the  town  had  assumed  the  burial  charges 
of  £66  I3i'.  4^.,  when  steps  were  taken  to  secure 
a  pastor  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Rev.  William  Emerson  was  called  to  the  posi- 
tion. He  married  Phebe  Bliss,  the  daughter  of 
his  predecessor  in  the  ministry  of  the  town,  in 
August,  1766,  and  established  a  home  in  the 
house  so  well  known  as  the  Old  Manse.  It  was 
erected  for  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson  and  his  bride,  and 
here  they  lived  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  a  Colo- 
nial parsonage  during  his  ministry  of  ten  years. 
Theirs  was  the  peace  and  comfort  of  the  beautiful 
home,  which  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  town,  —  his 
parish, — being  cheered  and  encouraged  by  the  love 
and  esteem  of  his  people. 

Oliver   Wendell    Holmes   says   of    him,    "  The 


82  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

Rev.  William  Emerson,  grandfather  of  Ralph 
Waldo,  was  an  excellent  and  popular  preacher, 
and  an  ardent  and  devoted  patriot.  He  preached 
resistance  to  tyrants  from  the  pulpit ;  he  en- 
couraged his  townsmen  and  their  allies  to  make 
a  stand  against  the  soldiers  who  had  marched 
upon  their  peaceful  village  ;  and  would  have  taken 
a  part  in  the  fight  at  the  bridge,  which  he  saw 
from  his  own  house,  had  not  the  friends  around 
him  prevented  his  quitting  his  doorstep." 

He  took  this  stand  in  the  face  of  the  opposition 
of  his  brother-in-law,  Daniel  Bliss,  who  was  an 
avowed  Tory,  and  still  living  in  the  village. 

On  Aug.  1 6,  1776,  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson  left  his 
family,  this  beautiful  home,  his  church  and  people, 
by  their  consent,  to  join  the  army  at  Ticonderoga 
as  chaplain.  He  was  discharged  by  General  Gates 
after  about  two  months  of  service,  because  of  de- 
clining health,  and  died  at  Rutland,  Vt.,  en  route 
for  his  home,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years, 
where  he  was  buried  with  military  honors.  His 
people  described  his  virtues  at  length  on  a  memo- 
rial stone  set  upon  Burial  Hill  in  1826.  It  con- 
cludes thus  : 

ENTHUSIASTIC,    ELOQUENT,    AFFECTIONATE, 

AND   PIOUS  ; 

HE   LOVED    HIS   FAMILY,    HIS   PEOPLE,    HIS   GOD, 

AND    HIS   COUNTRY. 

AND   TO   THIS   LAST   HE   YIELDED 

THE   CHEERFUL   SACRIFICK   OF   HIS    LIFE. 


OLD  MANSE   OF  CONCORD  83 

There  were  left  at  the  Manse,  besides  the 
widow  of  the  patriot,  their  four  children.  Wil- 
liam, their  only  son,  born  in  1769,  and  Mary 
Moody  Emerson,  a  daughter,  and  namesake  of 
her  grandmother,  became  well  known  in  the 
world,  the  latter  through  the  portrayal  made  by 
her  nephew,  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 

William,  the  son  and  namesake  of  the  "  patriot 
priest"  and  "high  son  of  liberty"  of  Concord, 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1789,  settled 
as  minister  in  Harvard  in  1792,  and  in  1799  as 
minister  of  the  First  Church  in  Boston.  In  1796 
he  married  Ruth  Haskins  of  Boston.  He  died  in 
181 1,  leaving  five  sons,  of  whom  Ralph  Waldo 
was  the  second. 

In  November,  1778,  Rev.  Ezra  Ripley  was  or- 
dained as  minister  at  Concord  ;  and  two  years  later 
he  married  the  widow  of  his  predecessor,  Phebe 
Bliss  Emerson,  and  took  up  his  abode  at  the 
Manse,  where  he  continued  to  live  during  his 
ministry  of  more  than   sixty  years. 

Hence  appears  the  proof  of  the  accuracy  of 
Hawthorne's  statement  in  "  Mosses  from  an  Old 
Manse : "  "A  priest  had  built  it ;  a  priest  had 
succeeded  to  it  ;  other  priestly  men  from  time  to 
time  dwelt  in  it;  and  children  born  in  its  cham- 
bers had  grown  up  to  assume  the  priestly  char- 
acter." 

While  pursuing  his  studies  at  Harvard  College, 
Ezra  Ripley  was  styled,  "  Holy  Ripley,"  because 


84  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

of  his  superior  moral  and  religious  character. 
These  traits,  most  commendable,  especially  for 
one  of  his  profession,  dominated  his  entire  life. 
He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  doctor  of 
divinity  from  Harvard  College  some  years  before 
his  death.  The  excellent  judgment  of  Dr.  Rip- 
ley, with  other  rare  qualities,  led  many  pastors  and 
churches  to  call  him  to  sit  in  councils.  He  was 
called  upon  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  to  take 
part  in  a  council  called  at  Bedford ;  it  was  when 
the  conflict  between  the  liberal  and  old  faith 
broke  out  in  that  town  as  it  did  throughout  New 
England.  The  session  was  delayed  till  late  into 
the  night,  and  then  adjourned  to  the  following 
day.  Not  expecting  to  be  delayed  so  long,  the 
reverend  doctor,  who  wore  a  wig  by  day,  was 
without  a  necessary  reclining  garment,  —  a  night- 
cap,—  hence  he  awaited  the  dawn  while  sitting  in 
his  chair.  Dr.  Ripley  died  about  1840;  and  the 
estate,  although  having  come  by  his  wife,  de- 
scended to  the  Ripley  heirs.  Dr.  Ripley  gave 
the  battle-ground  to  the  town  some  years  before 
his  death,  and  before  patriotic  sentiment  had 
aroused  the  interest  of  later  years.  But  his  pro- 
phetic wisdom  foresaw  the  day  that  has  already 
dawned. 

During  an  interim  of  the  occupancy  of  the  Ripley 
family  was  that  brief,  interesting,  and  well-known 
experience  of  Nathaniel  Hawthorne,  which  alone 
would  have  given  the  estate  unending  notoriety. 


OLD  MANSE   OF  CONCORD  85 

In  July,  1842,  Nathaniel  Hawthorne  and  So- 
phia Peabody  were  married  at  the  home  of  Dr. 
Peabody  in  Boston,  and  sought  the  seclusion  of 
the  vacant  parsonage  at  Concord  as  a  desirable 
place  for  the  full  enjoyment  of  each  other.  They 
occupied  the  Manse  four  years,  during  which  time 
their  daughter  Una  was  born.  They  then  left  it 
for  Salem,  Mass.,  where  Mr.  Hawthorne  entered 
upon  a  position  at  the  Custom  House.  The 
owners  now  took  possession  of  the  Old  Manse. 
Rev.  Samuel  Ripley,  son  of  the  Concord  minister, 
resigned  a  long  pastorate  at  Waltham,  and  set- 
tled here  with  his  family. 

Mr.  Hawthorne  describes  the  preparations  for 
the  retiring  minister  thus :  "  Carpenters  next 
appeared,  making  a  tremendous  racket  among  the 
out-buildings,  strewing  the  green  grass  with  pine 
shavings  and  chips  of  chestnut  joist,  and  vexing 
the  whole  antiquity  of  the  place  with  their  discord- 
ant renovations.  Soon,  moreover,  they  divested 
our  abode  of  the  veil  of  woodbine  which  had  crept 
over  a  large  portion  of  its  southern  face. 

"All  the  original  mosses  were  cleared  unspar- 
ingly away ;  and  there  were  horrible  whispers 
about  brushing  up  the  external  walls  with  a  coat 
of  paint, — a  purpose  as  little' to  my  taste  as 
might  be  that  of  rouging  the  venerable  cheeks 
of  one's  grandmother."  With  the  exception  of 
that  "vexing  of  antiquity,"  a  bay-window  on  the 
east  end  of  the  house  (which  the  writer  watched 


86  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

in  formation),  the  present  external  appearance  of 
the  Old  Manse  and  its  surroundings  is  not  unhke 
that  so  vividly  described  by  the  "  first  lay  occu- 
pant." "Between  two  tall  gate-posts  of  rough- 
hewn  stone  we  beheld  the  old  parsonage,  termi- 
nating the  vista  of  an  avenue  of  black  ash-trees." 

Some  of  the  ash-trees  have  been  replaced  by 
other  varieties,  but  the  lines  bordering  the  avenue 
are  well  kept. 

A  scattering  remnant  of  the  orchard,  planted 
by  Dr.  Ripley  in  his  old  age,  still  remains.  Al- 
though discouraged  by  his  neighbors  in  the  plant- 
ing of  the  orchard.  Dr.  Ripley  lived  to  enjoy  its 
fruits;  and  Hawthorne  reluctantly  feasted  upon 
its  luscious  apples  and  pears,  sharing  the  bounty 
with  Ellery  Channing,  Henry  Thoreau,  and  others 
of  kindred  tastes. 

In  the  rear  of  the  Manse  is  seen  the  place 
where,  according  to  tradition,  a  boy  was  chop- 
ping wood  for  the  clergyman  on  the  morning  of 
April  19,  1775,  and  after  the  battle  went  with  his 
axe  in  hand  to  the  field  of  carnage,  and  finding  a 
wounded  British  soldier,  used  his  blade  in  finish- 
ing his  misery. 

Near  this  place  the  river  winds  along  as  slug- 
gishly as  when  Hawthorne  and  his  odd  visitors 
pushed  out  in  their  boat  upon  its  smooth  surface. 
The  interior  of  the  Manse  presents  very  much  of 
the  appearance  of  the  old  parsonage. 

The  study  of  the  Rev.  Ezra  Ripley  is  a  small. 


OLD  MANSE   OF  CONCORD  87 

square  room,  with  elaborate  wainscoting,  and  beams 
of  oak  crossing  the  ceiling. 

The  huge  fireplace  is  still  there,  before  which 
more  than  three  thousand  sermons  were  probably- 
penned  by  Dr.  Ripley  ;  but  the  chair  in  which  the 
minister  sat  and  wrote  has  found  a  place  in  the 
collection  of  the  Concord  Antiquarian  Society. 

It  was  in  this  room  that  the  ghost  used  to 
appear,  according  to  Hawthorne ;  but  as  no  per- 
turbed spirit  has  been  reported  as  lifting  the  latch 
since  his  stay  at  the  Manse,  it  is  reasonable  to 
explain  that  apparition  as  the  vivid  imagination 
of  the  author. 

Opposite  the  study  is  a  large  room  containing 
many  modern  adornments,  and  used  by  the 
present  occupant  (1891),  a  representative  of  the 
third  generation  of  Ripleys,  as  a  parlor. 

A  door  from  the  parlor  leads  to  the  ancient 
dining-room,  where  old-time  feasts  were  spread 
according  to  the  most  approved  plan  of  the  par- 
sonage. Very  many  of  the  old-time  ministers 
of  New  England  have  feasted  and  chatted  in  this 
room,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  diary  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Marrett  already  quoted. 

The  big  kitchen,  where  the  oaken  beams  show 
no  sign  of  attempted  disguise,  and  the  modern 
cooking-range  stands  as  an  apology  for  the  once 
spacious  fireplace,  had  a  peculiar  charm  for  me 
when  in  boyhood  I  made  my  regular  entrance  to 
the  Old  Manse  by  the  kitchen-door,  but  in  later 


88  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

life  received  a  cordial  welcome  from  the  same 
lady  at  the  front  entrance. 

The  Old  Manse,  with  its  gambrel  roof,  is 
thought  to  have  been  the  first  house  in  the  vil- 
lage built  with  two  stories,  making  the  old  Colo- 
nial parsonage  suggestive  of  the  standing  of  its 
honored  occupant. 

In  the  apartment  over  the  dining-room,  Ralph 
Waldo  Emerson,  grandson  of  the  first  minister  in 
possession,  wrote  "  Nature  "  and  many  of  his  best 
poems,  during  a  sojourn  at  the  ancestral  dwell- 
ing with  his  grandmother's  family.  In  the  same 
room  Hawthorne  wrote  "  Mosses  from  an  Old 
Manse,"  in  the  first  chapter  of  which  he  gives  a 
vivid  description  of  it. 

"  The  study  had  three  windows,  set  with  little 
old-fashioned  panes  of  glass,  each  with  a  crack 
across  it.  The  two  on  the  western  side  looked, 
or  rather  peeped,  between  the  willow  branches 
down  into  the  orchard,  with  glimpses  of  the  river 
through  the  trees.  The  third,  facing  northward, 
commanded  a  broader  view  of  the  river,  at  a  spot 
where  its  hitherto  obscure  waters  gleam  forth 
with  the  light  of  history.  It  was  at  this  window 
that  the  clergyman  who  then  dwelt  in  the  Manse 
stood  watching  the  outbreak  of  a  long  and  deadly 
struggle  between  two  nations.  He  saw  the  irregu- 
lar array  of  his  parishioners  on  the  farther  side  of 
the  river  ;  he  awaited  in  an  agony  of  suspense 
the  rattle  of  the  musketry.    It  came,  and  it  needed 


OLD  MANSE   OF  CONCORD 


89 


but    a    gentle   wind    to    sweep  the   battle   smoke 
around  his  quiet  house." 

The  first  Sunday-school  of  Concord  had  its  be- 


srinnins:  in 


J^ 


Window  of  Old  Manse 


the 
Old 

Manse,  and  in  th( 
very     room 
made     fa- 
mous by  so 
many    great    mi 
While  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  "  The  Rise 

and  Progress  of  the  Sunday-school  in  America," 
I  was  cordially  received  at  the  Manse  by  a  grand- 
daughter of  Rev.  Ezra  Ripley,  who  communicated 
the  facts. 

Miss  Sarah  Ripley,  daughter  of  the  minister, 
conducted  a  school  in  this  house.  She  had  day 
pupils  from  various  families  of  the  village,  and 
others  from  different  towns,  who  boarded  in  the 
family.  Rev.  Mr.  Ripley  conducted  the  instruc- 
tion in  the  Latin  language  and  higher  branches. 

Miss  Ripley  was  an  energetic,  persevering 
woman,  and  besides  caring  for  an  invalid  mother, 
conducted  the  day-school,  giving  added  instruc- 
tion in  moral  and  religious  truth.  She  thus  laid 
the  foundation  for  the  Sunday-school  of  the  town. 

"  The  room,"  said  Miss  Ripley,  "  in  which  the 
school  had  its  sessions,  and  which  Ralph  Waldo 


90  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Emerson  later  occupied,  has  ever  since  been 
known   in   the   family   as  the   schoolroom." 

It  is  more  than  two  centuries  since  the  name 
of  Emerson  was  first  connected  with  the  history 
of  Concord.  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  son-in-law  of 
Concord's  early  minister,  fled  from  Mendon  to 
this  town  when  that  village  was  destroyed  by  the 
Indians  during  Philip's  war. 

It  is  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  since  Rev. 
William  Emerson,  great-grandson  of  Rev.  Joseph, 
took  up  his  abode  in  this  house,  and  became  the 
pastor  of  the  twelfth  church  formed  in  the  colony. 

The  name  has  received  added  lustre  with  each 
succeeding  generation,  and  the  voice  of  Rev. 
William's  grandson  has  been  heard  as  far  as  the 
shot  fired  — 

"By  the  rude  bridge  that  arched  the  flood." 
CUPID    IN    THE    REVOLUTION. 

In  the  Tenth  Regiment  of  the  royal  army  that 
constituted  a  part  of  the  participants  in  the  April 
raid  of  1775  was  a  sturdy  young  native  of  Lon- 
don. Having  attained  the  age  of  thirty  years,  he 
was  too  thoughtful  to  regard  the  acts  of  General 
Gage  as  did  many  of  his  associates  ;  but  he  was 
in  the  service  of  the  king,  and  must  do  his  duty. 
He  met  with  Provincials,  both  Tories  and  patriots, 
during  his  stay  in  Boston,  and  enjoyed  their  so- 
ciety. In  fact,  the  dull  routine  of  camp-life  would 
have  been  much  more  monotonous  had  it  not  been 


CUPID  IN-  THE  kEVOLUTlOM  9 1 

for  the  New  England  people  whom  he  frequently 
met.  He  noticed  the  struggles  of  many  families 
to  exist  during  the  severe  weather  of  the  winter 
of  1775,  and  frequently  expressed  sympathy  for 
them  in  their  deprivations.  The  tears  of  a  faith- 
ful mother  mourning  over  her  situation  did  not 
call  from  this  thoughtful  young  man,  as  from 
many,  the  harsh  words,  "  Give  up  your  rebellious 
ideas,  and  swear  allegiance  to  our  king  ;  "  but  the 
careworn  expression  of  this  woman  reminded  the 
soldier  of  his  mother  across  the  Atlantic,  as  she 
bade  her  son  farewell  when  he  set  out  for  America, 
and  he  could  but  give  expression  to  his  sympathy 
for  the  sufferer.  The  bright  eyes  of  a  young  lady 
of  the  family  riveted  his  attention  ;  he  detected 
the  youthful  bloom  of  her  cheeks  growing  pale 
through  the  weeks  of  anxiety,  and  did  not  fail 
to  cheer  her  by  his  smile.  He  accompanied  this 
young  lady  to  the  Old  South  Meeting-house  on 
the  last  anniversary  of  the  Massacre  before  the 
beginning  of  hostilities.  They  both  noticed 
the  thoughtfulness  of  Samuel  Adams  in  giving 
the  best  seats  to  the  officials  known  to  be  his 
enemies.  They  listened  to  every  word  uttered 
by  the  fearless  Warren  ;  and  when  the  speaker 
dropped  his  silk  handkerchief  over  the  uplifted 
hand,  in  which  were  the  bullets  intended  to 
frighten  him,  the  eyes  of  these  young  people 
met  in  an  expression  of  sympathetic  admiration 
for  the  graceful  act  of  the  orator. 


92  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Had  these  young  people  given  expression  to 
their  sentiments  when  leaving  the  meeting-house 
that  night,  they  would  have  found  that  they  were 
not  at  variance.  Despite  all  his  efforts  to  con- 
ceal his  feelings,  the  young  soldier's  comrades 
detected  them,  and  were  soon  aware  of  the  real 
situation.  They  took  pleasure  in  hurling  at  him 
their  sharpest  taunts,  and  placarded  his  barrack 
as  "The lodgings  of  the  besieged  heart,"  "Caught 
in  Provincial  meshes,"  and  annoyed  the  young 
man  in  many  ways,  while  he  vainly  tried  to  pre- 
sent a  cheerful  appearance.  After  being  de- 
tained some  days  by  extra  duties  in  the  camp,  the 
anxious  soldier  stole  out  from  his  quarters,  and 
made  haste  to  the  street  and  door  where  he  had 
last  seen  the  object  of  his  growing  affections. 
To  his  surprise  all  evidence  of  life  had  departed, 
the  shutters  were  closed,  the  doors  barred,  and 
no  light  flickered  from  any  window.  His  shrill 
whistle  only  brought  an  answering  echo  from  the 
shed  in  the  rear.  He  turned  sorrowfully  away, 
revolving  in  his  mind  the  thought,  could  it  be 
that  this  family  had  been  driven  to  such  a  state 
of  desperation  as  to  leave  their  home  and  go  into 
a  country  town,  as  so  many  had  done  }  He  then 
wished  he  had  made  bold  to  tell  her  his  inmost 
feelings,  but  believed  that  his  silence  had  led  her 
to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  in  full  sympathy 
with  the  movements  of  the  officials,  and  was  only, 
waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  kill  her  people.     He 


CUPID  IN'  THE  REVOLUTION  93 

would  not  go  back  to  camp  without  using  every 
possible  means  for  ascertaining  where  the  family 
had  gone.  He  inquired  of  every  one  whom  he 
met  in  the  neighborhood,  first  for  the  name  of 
the  young  lady  who  had  lived  there ;  even  this  he 
had  failed  to  learn,  she  was  so  reticent  and  dis- 
trustful of  the  soldier.  "  Mary  ?  "  was  the  prompt 
feply  of  one,  given  in  an  interrogative  manner. 
"  Yes,  Mary,  Where  is  she .-' "  said  the  young 
soldier,  not  knowing  that  he  had  then  received  a 
correct  answer,  for  evasive  means  were  so  often 
resorted  to  in  order  to  prevent  gratifying  the 
enemy  in  the  town,  "  Gone  to  Concord,"  was 
the  honest  reply  of  one  who  knew  all  about  the 
hardships  of  that  family ;  but  the  readiness  of  the 
answer  led  the  inquirer  to  doubt  the  truthfulness 
of  it,  and  he  went  back  to  his  quarters  with  a 
sorrowful  heart.  Those  bright  eyes  were  before 
him  wherever  he  went.  When  on  the  duty  of  a 
guard  at  night,  he  fancied  their  tearful  presence ; 
and  when  trying  to  while  away  an  hour  in  his 
berth,  he  fancied  the  same  company.  When  sit- 
ting on  his  couch,  with  his  face  buried  in  his 
hands,  this  soldier  was  found  by  a  comrade  who 
had  no  sympathy  for  him,  but  thrust  darts  into 
his  troubled  soul  by  crying  out,  "Here  he  is, 
Sam  has  surrendered,  captured  by  a  Boston 
maiden,"  With  a  show  of  bravado  the  soldier 
rushed  out,  and  tried  to  shake  off  the  spell  that 
was  upon  him.     The  absence    of   one  whom  he 


94  BENEATH  OLD  HOOF  TREES 

longed  to  have  love  him  served  to  recall  one  in 
his  distant  home  whose  love  he  knew  was  sure. 
It  was  his  sister,  and  Mary  was  her  name.  She 
had  pressed  a  parting  kiss  upon  his  lips  when  he 
left  the  old  home.  It  was  the  remembrance  of 
her,  and  of  his  faithful  mother,  that  first  prompted 
him  to  turn  an  interested  glance  towards  the 
home  of  sorrow  in  Boston,  into  the  secrets  of 
which  he  now  so  much  wished  he  had  penetrated. 

As  the  spring  days  brought  out  the  buds  of  the 
trees  on  the  Common,  and  recalled  the  birds  from 
their  winter  quarters,  this  soldier  longed  to  return 
to  his  home,  where  he  knew  there  were  anxious 
hearts  waiting  for  him ;  he  regretfullv  thought  of 
his  indifference  toward  those  who  had  so  often 
manifested  affection  at  the  old  hearthstone,  and 
made  many  silent  resolves  to  be  more  dutiful  in 
the  future,  should  he  ever  return  to  his  native 
shore.  He  recalled  the  sternness  of  his  father, 
who  in  the  midst  of  his  tears  at  parting  had  bid- 
den him  not  return  to  his  door  until  he  had  either 
subdued  or  killed  the  rebels  in  America. 

Various  were  the  emotions  that  filled  the  hearts 
of  the  British  soldiers  when  the  order  was  given 
for  a  march  into  the  country  under  cover  of  the 
night.  The  confinement  and  dull  routine  of  camp- 
life  had  become  irksome  in  the  extreme,  and  all 
were  glad  to  have  a  change.  Many,  in  fact,  longed 
to  have  a  skirmish  with  the  Yankees,  wanted  to 
show  them  how  to  fight,  believing  that  it  would 


CUPID  IN  THE  REVOLUTION  95 

require  but  the  slightest  effort  to  subdue  the 
whole.  At  first  they  were  as  antic  and  frisky  as 
a  farmer's  cattle  when  let  loose  in  spring  after  the 
winter's  confinement  in  and  about  the  barns;  but 
they  soon  began  to  feel  the  burden  of  the  march, 
and  derived  their  impetus  from  anticipated  success 
at  the  end  of  the  route.  They  had  not  gone  far 
before  it  was  generally  understood  that  they  were 
bound  for  a  town  called  Concord.  "We'll  show 
them  it's  Conquered  they  are  before  we  leave 
them,"  and  kindred  sentiments,  were  whispered 
from  man  to  man  as  they  passed  silently  along. 
Marching  without  music  was  no  pleasure  to  the 
British  regulars  ;  but  the  novelty  of  it,  and  the 
anticipation  of  surprise,  cheered  them  on,  until 
they  began  to  hear  from  every  side  the  sound 
of  bells  and  an  occasional  discharge  of  a  musket. 
These  caused  the  ofBcers  to  shake  their  heads 
with  an  expression  of  unpleasant  apprehensions, 
and  set  peculiar  emotions  astir  in  the  minds  of  all. 
Coming  into  the  village  of  Menotomy,  they  saw 
occasional  lights  flitting  about  in  houses ;  and  at 
one  they  made  bold  to  knock  in  a  most  imperative 
manner.  Their  inquiry  as  to  why  they  were 
up  so  early  was  quickly  met  by  a  woman,  who 
said,  "  Making  herb  drink  for  my  sick  husband." 
They  passed  on  without  pausing  to  learn  that  it 
was  bullets  that  she  was  making,  and  possibly 
herb  drinks  as  well.  Foreign  tea  was  not  in 
order  in  the  homes  of  the  patriots. 


96  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

One  there  was  in  the  ranks  whose  greatest  am- 
bition was  to  reach  Concord.  He  was  ready  to 
respond  to  an  order  for  a  "  double-quick,"  think- 
ing not  of  military  stores,  but  of  another  and  to 
him  more  precious  object. 

As  they  approached  Lexington  village,  they 
heard  the  beat  of  a  drum  in  the  distance,  the 
first  indication  of  martial  music  of  that  morning. 
The  careless  words,  "  We'll  soon  silence  that," 
passing  down  the  ranks,  met  with  no  approval  from 
one  of  the  number  ;  his  only  hope  was  that  he 
might  peacefully  gratify  his  own  personal  ambi- 
tion. There  was  no  joy  in  the  heart  of  the  young 
soldier  when  the  order  came  to  fire  upon  the  Pro- 
vincials at  Lexington,  His  musket  was  discharged 
into  the  air,  if  at  all,  where  it  could  do  no  damage 
to  any  one,  lest  it  might  carry  sorrow  to  a  heart 
which  he  believed  throbbed  in  sympathy  with  his. 

"  Fall  in  and  march  on  "  were  welcome  orders 
to  the  soldier  whom  we  have  kept  in  mind. 
Over  the  hills  they  go  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 
"  What's  a  little  Yankee  blood  .-"  enough  rebels 
left,"  were  thoughts  that  found  expression  with 
many  a  thoughtless  servant  of  the  king.  Tramp, 
tramp,  on  they  go,  meeting  with  no  resistance  ; 
the  only  semblance  of  mockery  came  from  the 
gobble  of  the  turkey-cocks,  roused  to  spread  their 
wings  in  strutting  indignation  by  the  bright  coats 
of  the  soldiers.  With  the  sun  upon  their  backs 
already  removing  the  chill  of   the  midnight  fog, 


CUPID  IN   THE   REVOLUTION  97 

they  march  into  the  village  of  Concord,  but  no 
longer  to  make  their  undisturbed  progress.  There 
was  confusion  on  every  side,  while  the  sound  of 
the  fife  and  drum  in  the  distance  bespoke  the 
hastening  march  of  the  yeomen. 

While  breaking  open  the  barrels  of  flour,  and 
committing  other  depredations,  the  privates  were 
acting  out  the  feelings  expressed  by  an  oflficer 
when  stirring  his  brandy  at  the  town  bar.  But 
they  little  realized  that  they  were  thus  adding 
fuel  to  the  flame  that  was  heating  the  Yankees' 
blood  to  that  degree  that  would  tell  upon  the 
army  of  the  king. 

"There's  no  life  in  you,  Sam,"  said  more  than 
one  comrade  to  the  young  man,  who  had  no  appar- 
ent interest  in  the  work  of  destruction  enjoyed  by 
some  to  the  fullest  extent.  He  had  no  death-deal- 
ing shot  for  the  yeomen,  either  at  the  bridge  or  in 
the  return  to  the  village  ;  but  ere  he  had  passed 
the  meeting-house,  a  yeoman's  bullet  struck  him 
down.  Weary,  discouraged,  and  thinking  of  home, 
possibly  of  the  frowning  face  of  his  father  and 
the  careworn  countenances  of  mother  and  sister, 
he  made  no  effort  to  rise  and  reassert  himself. 

"  Too  far  gone  to  take  back  with  us  "  was  the 
decision  of  the  hastily  impanelled  jury. 

With  no  show  of  vindictiveness,  the  wounded 
and  abandoned  soldier  was  taken  up  by  those  who 
had  already  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  carried  into  the  dwelling  of  the  village  sur- 


98  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

geon,  Dr.  Minot.  He  was  not  alone  in  his  mis- 
ery ;  others  were  there,  who  in  turn  were  being 
served  by  the  good  doctor  and  his  assistants.  One 
high  in  rank  had  just  been  taken  away  with  a  horse 
and  chaise  which  the  enemy  had  appropriated  to 
their  use.  These  had  been  left  by  a  farmer,  who 
had  galloped  into  town,  and  dismounted  for  more 
effective  service  upon  his  feet.  In  their  haste 
the  soldiers  had  only  time  to  say  "  Poor  Sam,"  as 
they  l-eft  the  doctor's  house,  and  started  towards 
Boston.  While  the  doctor  had  been  devoting  him- 
self to  the  more  hopeful  cases,  the  one  supposed 
to  be  mortally  wounded  was  revived  by  the  faith- 
ful care  of  the  young  lady  in  the  home ;  and  when 
the  skilful  hands  of  Dr.  Minot  were  at  liberty  to 
serve  the  last  patient,  he  was  in  a  more  hopeful 
condition  than  when  he  was  brought  into  the 
house.  When  giving  directions  to  his  assistant, 
the  doctor  addressed  her  as  Mary ;  this  brought 
open  the  eyes  of  the  wounded  soldier,  and  he 
fixed  them  upon  her  who  was  so  quietly  standing 
at  his  side. 

It  was  not  many  days  before  the  faithful  doc- 
tor, in  dressing  the  wounds  of  his  patient,  confi- 
dently said,  "  You'll  live  ;  you  are  in  a  fair  way  to 
recover."  To  this  the  encouraged  soldier  replied, 
"  But  not  to  go  back  to  the  army  to  fight  against 
such  friends."  It  was  some  weeks  before  Dr. 
Minot  discovered  the  remedy  that  was  working 
so  effectually.     No  patient  of  his  had  ever  made 


CUPID  IN  THE  REVOLUTION  99 

such  rapid  strides  in  convalescence.  To  the  doc- 
tor's words  of  cheer,  "  You  must  have  been  in  a 
perfectly  healthy  condition  when  the  Yankee  bul- 
let struck  you,"  the  soldier  replied,  "That's 
true,  doctor  ;  and  my  mind  has  been  more  fully  at 
rest  since  I  opened  my  eyes  and  saw  Mary  here, 
than  for  many  weeks  before  we  were  ordered  to 
march  out  of  Boston." 

Another  mind  was  at  rest ;  and  the  bloom  of 
health  returned  to  those  pallid  cheeks,  while  the 
former  sparkle  of  the  eyes  was  detected  by  the 
soldier,  as  Mary  Piper  glided  about  the  room  on 
her  errands  of  love  and  mercy. 

Samuel  Lee  soon  began  to  inquire  after  the 
condition  of  affairs  in  the  country,  and  expressed 
a  desire  only  that  the  Colonists  might  be  victori- 
ous. When  an  opportunity  came  for  an  exchange 
of  prisoners,  he  was  able  to  go  if  he  was  so  in- 
clined ;  but  love  and  devotion  had  conquered  him, 
and  he  refused  to  return  to  the  army.  Before 
the  besieged  town  of  Boston  was  rid  of  the  ob- 
noxious army  there  was  a  marriage  in  Concord, 
—  Samuel  Lee  of  London  and  Mary  Piper  of  Con- 
cord were  made  one  under  the  laws  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

In  the  records  of  that  town  is  the  following  :  — 

"Polly  Lee  D.  of  Samuel  Lee  and  Mary  his  wife  born 
January  loth,  1777. 

Sam'  Lee  son  of  Sam'  Lee  and  Mary  his  wife  was  born 
December  14th,  1779." 


lOO  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

And  Other  records  show  that  to  this  couple, 
made  wretched  and  also  happy  by  the  war,  there 
were  born  other  children.  Before  the  infuriated 
father  across  the  Atlantic  was  willing  to  forgive 
his  son  for  turning  his  back  on  the  king,  there 
was  made  a  record  in  Concord  thus  :  — 

"  Mr.  Samuel  Lee  died  August  6,  1790,  aged  45." 

The  mother  and  sister  in  that  distant  home  of 
luxury  were  not  permitted  to  welcome  back  the 
object  of  their  affection,  neither  was  the  son  per- 
mitted to  feel  the  touch  of  their  devoted  hands  ; 
but  the  few  years  of  his  life  in  Concord  were 
made  happy  by  her  who  silently  loved  him  when 
sitting  by  his  side  in  Old  South  Meeting-house  in 
March,  1775,  and  whose  affection  went  out  to 
him  when  a  bleeding  soldier  of  the  king  he  was 
brought  into  the  home  of  Concord's  good  physi- 
cian and  surgeon,  Dr.  Minot. 

Neither  the  widow  nor  children  of  Samuel  Lee 
were  benefited  by  the  great  estate  across  the 
ocean,  but  they  made  a  prosperous  record  in  Con- 
cord and  elsewhere.  On  May  25,  1794,  Mary  Lee 
became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hoar,  married  by  Rev. 
Ezra  Ripley.  The  children  of  Samuel  Lee  and 
Mary  Piper  may  be  traced  to  honorable  positions 
in  the  country.  Rufus,  born  in  1788,  married  Mary 
Hallowell  of  Southborough,  who  was  two  years 
younger.  Of  their  children,  Charles,  who  was  born 
in  Watertown  in   1826,  and  his  sister  Mrs.  Anna 


CUPID  IN  THE  REVOLUTION  lOI 

L.  Goodnow  are  both  now  living  in  Waltham. 
From  these  grandchildren  of  the  couple  who 
were  brought  together  by  sorrow,  I  have  gathered 
the  more  substantial  facts  of  this  story,  supplying 
some  missing  links  from  the  general  history  of 
the  times  in  which  they  lived  together  in  America. 

Says  Mrs.  Goodnow,  "  It  is  one  of  the  ungrati- 
fied  longings  of  my  life  to  penetrate  the  hidden 
secrets  of  the  Lee  family  in  the  ancestral  home 
in  England,  where  wealth  and  luxury  abounded. 
We  have  but  few  reminders  of  our  grandfather  ; 
his  silver  knee-buckles  worn  into  battle  were 
treasured  by  us  for  many  years,  but  have  now 
disappeared.  His  sword,  which  he  laid  down  in 
peace  at  Concord,  is  treasured  there  with  many 
other  reminders  of  those  soldiers  who  went  out  of 
Boston  to  Concord  with  no  desire  to  kill,  but  were 
in  the  obedience  of  the  government. 

Other  children  of  Samuel  Lee  made  homes  else- 
where. Samuel,  the  namesake  of  the  soldier  and 
father,  was  lost  with  his  only  son  on  the  St. 
Lawrence  River  during  the  1812  war. 

For  more  than  a  century  the  unwilling  subject 
of  King  George  IIL  has  slept  in  an  unmarked 
grave  in  old  Concord,  perchance  by  the  side  of 
the  very  yeoman  whose  well-directed  shot  laid 
him  low,  and  became  the  circumstance  of  his  life 
which  brought  him  the  greatest  joy. 


I02  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER    X 

TOLD    AND    RETOLD. INCIDENTS    OF    CONCORD 

FIGHT 

Some  familiar  facts  are  repeated  because  of  their 
bearing  upon  the  movements  of  the  patriots  in 
other  towns. 

Leaving  Lexington,  the  British  troops  pro- 
ceeded along  the  six  or  seven  miles  of  road 
towards  Concord  unmolested,  disturbed  only  by 
the  ominous  sound  of  church-bells  and  signal- 
guns  that  fell  upon  their  ears  from  the  surround- 
ing towns. 

The  gallant  Prescott,  with  the  imprint  of  his 
sweetheart's  lips  still  fresh  upon  his  ruddy  cheek, 
had  given  the  alarm  ;  Amos  Melvin,  the  guard  on 
duty  at  the  Court  House,  had  discharged  his  gun 
and  rung  out  the  town  bell  "  with  the  earnestness 
of  speech."  It  was  between  one  and  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  The  committee  of  vigilance,  the 
guard,  the  militia,  the  minute-men,  and  citizens 
generally,  rushed  from  their  beds,  and  were  early 
seen  in  the  village. 

One  of  the  first  to  appear  was  the  Rev.  William 
Emerson,  armed  with  his  gun.  He  had  preached 
resistance,  and  stood  ready  to  practise  it.     This 


INCIDENTS   OF   CONCORD   FIGHT  IO3 

act  of  the  faithful  pastor,  together  with  his  death 
while  in  the  service  of  his  country  the  following 
year,  led  the  faithful  sentinel  of  that  April  morn- 
ing to  name  his  two  sons  born  after  that  event, 
Emerson  and  William  Melvin. 

Major  John  Buttrick,  across  the  river,  nearly  a 
mile  away,  had  been  aroused  by  the  signals,  and 
called  his  son  John,  a  lad  of  sixteen  years,  and  a 
fifer  in  the  company  of  minute-men.  "  Load  your 
pistols  ;  take  your  fife,  and  we'll  start  for  the  vil- 
lage," were  the  prompt  orders  from  patriot  father 
to  patriot  son. 

It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  which  enabled 
every  one  to  hasten  in  his  movements. 

Messengers  were  off  in  all  directions,  among 
them  one  towards  Watertown,  and  another  towards 
Lexington,  to  get  any  tidings  of  the  movements  of 
the  enemy.  Reuben  Brown  reached  Lexington 
in  time  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  army,  and  left 
just  before  the  outrage.  Major  Buttrick's  first 
inquiry  of  the  excited  messenger,  "  Qid  they 
fire  bullets .'' "  revealed  his  anxiety  in  regard  to 
the  nature  of  the  charge  for  the  muskets  of  his 
men. 

Colonel  James  Barrett,  a  member  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  and  Superintendent  of  the  Public 
Stores,  was  directing  the  removal  of  ammunition, 
etc.,  to  places  of  safety,  a  portion  of  which  had 
been  taken  to  other  towns  the  previous  day. 

Minute-men  were  stationed  as   guards   at    the 


104  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

North  and  South  Bridges,  on  the  Lincohi  road, 
and  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 

In  case  of  alarm  they  were  to  meet  at  the 
tavern  kept  by  Amos  Wright,  where  later  in  the 
day  Major  Pitcairn,  stirring  his  brandy,  said,  "  I 

mean  to  stir  the  d Yankee  blood  as   I   stir 

this,  before  night."  This  he  did,  to  his  and  Old 
England's  sorrow. 

Captain  Brown,  with  his  minute-men,  paraded 
on  the  Common.  Ammunition  was  dealt  out  to 
them  and  other  companies  from  the  Court  House 
magazine.  Then  they  marched  out  from  the  vil- 
lage a  short  distance,  towards  Boston,  were  joined 
by  the  minute-men  from  Lincoln  commanded  by 
William  Smith,  captain,  Samuel  Farrar  and  Sam- 
uel Hoar,  lieutenants.  The  Bedford  men,  two 
companies,  seventy-seven  men,  were  early  on  the 
ground  ;  and  other  towns  were  as  prompt  in  their 
response,   notably   so  Acton,  with  its  brave  men. 

It  was  just  before  seven  o'clock  when  the  Brit- 
ish were  .§een  marching  towards  Concord  village. 

A  band  of  Concord,  Acton,  and  Lincoln  men 
under  Captain  George  Minot  took  a  stand  on  the 
hill  near  the  liberty-pole;  but  being  met  by  the 
company  that  went  to  spy  out  the  enemy,  who 
reported  that  the  British  were  in  sight,  they 
joined  them  and  fell  back,  taking  another  stand. 
There  the  men  "formed  into  two  battalions." 
When  scarcely  located  in  their  new  position 
they  saw  "  the  British  troops  at  the  distance  of 


INCIDENTS  OF  CONCORD  FIGHT  IO5 

a  quarter  of  a  mile  advancing  with  the  greatest 
celerity." 

This  was  the  time  for  the  most  judicious  action. 
The  beloved  pastor,  Rev.  William  Emerson,  said, 
"  Let  us  stand  our  ground.  If  we  die,  let  us  die 
here."  It  was  Colonel  Eleazer  Brooks  of  Lincoln 
who  said  in  reply,  "  No !  It  will  not  do  for  us  to 
begin  the  war." 

There  was  yet  no  organization  of  any  sort 
with  the  Americans.  There  were  scarcely  men 
enough  to  organize  ;  but  Major  Buttrick  saw  the 
necessity  of  this  as  the  numbers  increased,  and  he 
went  to  Lieutenant  Joseph  Hosmer,  then  in  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  companies,  and  requested  him 
to  act  as  adjutant.  "  My  company  will  be  left 
alone  if  I  do,"  he  said.  "  It  must  be  so,  then," 
replied  Buttrick;  "you  must  go."  Hosmer  be- 
came adjutant,  and  an  organization  was  com- 
menced. 

Colonel  Barrett,  returning  from  the  removal  of 
the  stores,  and  hearing  various  conflicting  reports 
of  the  doings  at  Lexington,  addressed  a  few  firm 
and  impressive  words  to  the  men.  He  charged 
them  not  to  fire  a  shot  unless  the  British  fired 
first.  Seeing  that  the  British  had  entered  the 
village  a  few  rods  away.  Colonel  Barrett  ordered 
the  Americans  to  take  a  new  stand,  and  await 
re-enforcements.  They  were  coming  from  various 
directions.  Minute-men  and  militia  from  Chelms- 
ford, Carlisle,  Littleton,  Westford,  Billerica,  Stow, 


106  BENEATH  OLD  ROOE   TREES 

and  other  towns,  were  early  in  the  ranks.  While 
on  Punkatasset  Hill,  about  a  mile  north  of  the 
meeting-house,  they  saw  the  smoke  rising  from 
the  centre  of  the  town.  Major  Buttrick  said  to 
them,  "  Men,  if  you  will  follow  me,  we  will  go 
now  and  see  what  they  are  about."  But  they  did 
not  move  until  their  numbers  were  very  much 
increased;  and  then  they  went  down  to  the  high 
land  in  front  of  Major  Buttrick's  house,  where 
they  could  see  the  British  guards  at  North  Bridge 
and  in  the  village.  They  were  met  at  the  cross- 
roads by  the  Acton  minute-men  in  command  of 
Captain  Isaac  Davis,  who  said  in  leaving  his 
home,  "  I  have  a  right  to  go  to  Concord  on  the 
king's  highway,  and  I  intend  to  go  if  I  have  to 
meet  all  the  British  troops  in  Boston."  Upon 
arriving  with  his  forty  men,  he  proceeded  at  once 
to  Adjutant  Hosmer,  and  "with  the  fire  of  battle 
in  his  eye,  and  big  drops  of  perspiration  rolling 
down  his  manly  face  from  his  hurried  march,  re- 
ported his  company  ready  for  duty."  He  was 
given  a  position  to  the  right  of  the  other  minute- 
men,  and  to  the  left  of  the  Concord  companies. 

The  British  were  in  the  town.  Six  companies 
entered  on  the  ridge  of  the  hill  to  drive  away  the 
minute-men.  The  grenadiers  and  marines  came 
by  the  main  road,  and  halted  on  the  Common. 

They  made  their  post  of  observation  on  Old 
Burial  Hill.  From  this  place  they  saw  the  rap- 
idly increasing  army,  and  their  need  of  haste  if 


INCIDENTS  OP  CONCORD  FIGHT  I07 

they  expected  to  accomplish  the  object  of  their 
morning  march. 

The  North  and  South  Bridges  must  be  seized  if 
possible,  to  prevent  other  companies  of  the  Pro- 
vincials from  entering  the  town.  This  they  en- 
deavored to  do.  Colonel  Smith  remained  in  the 
centre  of  the  village.  Captain  Lawrence  Parsons 
was  sent  with  six  companies  of  light  infantry, 
comprising  about  three  hundred  men,  to  take  pos- 
session of  North  Bridge,  and  thence  to  the  place 
where  military  stores  were  secreted.  Ensign 
D'Bernicre,  the  spy,  was  given  him  as  a  guide. 
Three  of  these  companies,  under  command  of  Cap- 
tain Lawrie,  were  placed  on  guard,  one  at  the 
Bridge,  and  the  other  two  on  the  hill  in  front  of 
the  Old  Manse.  While  here  they  called  at  houses 
for  food  and  drink,  which  were  not  refused  them 
by  the  families  of  the  patriots. 

The  other  three  companies,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Parsons,  proceeded  to  Colonel  Barrett's 
house  to  destroy  the  stores.  While  there  two 
companies  arrived  from  Sudbury,  under  command 
of  Captains  Aaron  Haynes  and  John  Nixon. 
The  latter  was  subsequently  a  general  in  the  Con- 
tinental army.  Lieutenant-colonel  Ezekiel  Howe 
was  with  the  Sudbury  men.  They  were  directed 
to  the  North  Bridge,  to  reach  which  they  must 
pass  Colonel  Barrett's  house.  Upon  noticing  the 
British  about  there,  Colonel  Howe  exclaimed,  "  If 
any  blood  has  been  shed,  not  one  of  the  rascals 


I08  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES    ' 

shall  escape."  The  Sudbury  men  followed  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  British  to  Charlestown. 

While  Captain  Parsons  was  out  on  his  expedi- 
tion, another  detachment  of  one  hundred  men, 
under  Captain  Munday  Pole,  was  ordered  to  take 
possession  of  the  South  Bridge,  and  destroy  such 
property  as  he  could  find  secreted  in  that  locality. 
He  stationed  a  guard  at  the  bridge,  and  another 
at  Lee's  Hill,  while  the  others  visited  the  homes, 
meeting  with  women  whose  management  will  be 
described  in  another  volume.  Captain  Pole's  de- 
tachment was  startled  by  the  guns  at  the  North 
Bridge,  and  they  hastened  back  to  the  centre  of 
the  town. 

While  the  British  forces  were  thus  divided  and 
engaged,  the  Americans  held  a  council  of  war  on 
the  highest  point  of  land  where  they  were  as- 
sembled. There  were  in  the  number  consulting, 
Colonels  Barrett,  Robinson,  Pierce  and  Brooks ; 
Major  Buttrick ;  Captains  Davis,  Brown,  Miles, 
Barrett,  and  Smith,  with  prominent  citizens.  While 
their  deliberations  were  going  on,  they  could  see 
the  smoke  and  flames  of  destruction  rising  at  the 
centre,  and  they  thought  the  whole  village  was  on 
fire.  It  was  with  that  sight  in  view,  the  energetic 
Hosmer  exclaimed,  "They  have  set  the  village  on 
fire  !     Will  you  let  them  burn  it  down  .'' " 

They  resolved  to  march  to  the  middle  of  the 
town  to  defend  their  homes,  or  die  in  the  attempt. 
To  do  this  they  must  cross  the  bridge.    There  was 


INCIDENTS  OF  CONCORD  FIGHT  I09 

a  guard  of  about  two  hundred  men  under  Captain 
Lawrie,  about  a  mile  away  was  Captain  Pole  with 
one  hundred  more,  and  Captain  Parsons  liable  to 
return  at  any  moment  with  three  companies  from 
Colonel  Barrett's.  The  British  could  concentrate 
over  eight  hundred  thoroughly  drilled  men  in  a 
very  short  time ;  while  the  Americans  numbered 
about  five  hundred,  who  in  a  military  estimate 
could  not  be  called  much  other  than  an  "  armed 
mob." 

In  the  excitement  of  the  hour,  Captain  Smith 
of  Lincoln  volunteered  to  dislodge  the  enemy  at 
the  bridge  with  his  single  company.  Captain 
Davis  of  Acton  at  the  same  time  uttered  the 
memorable  words,  "  I  haven't  a  man  that's  afraid 
to  go." 

The  minute-men  having  bayonets  were  given 
the  advance  position  ;  and  the  Acton  men,  under 
Captain  Davis,  were  given  the  right  in  the  march 
to  the  bridge.  Colonel  Barrett  gave  the  order  to 
march  to  "  the  bridge,  and  pass  the  same,  but  not 
to  fire  on  the  king's  troops  unless  they  were  fired 
upon."  They  wheeled  from  the  right,  Luther  Blan- 
chard  and  John  Buttrick,  the  young  fifers,  playing 
the  "White  Cockade,"  advanced  to  the  scene  of 
action,  and  placed  themselves  in  an  exposed  posi- 
tion on  the  rough,  narrow  highway.  The  Acton 
minute-men,  true  to  their  captain's  word,  passed 
in  front,  and  marched  toward  the  bridge.  In  files 
of   two  abreast  the   Concord    minute-men,  under 


no  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Captain  Brown,  pushed  forward,  coming  next  into 
position.  These  companies  were  followed  by 
those  of  Captain  Miles  and  Barrett ;  the  former 
marched  to  the  battlefield  with  the  same  serious- 
ness and  acknowledgment  of  God  which  he  always 
felt  on  going  to  church.  Then  came  the  Acton 
militia  under  Lieutenant  Simon  Hunt.  Those 
from  Lincoln  and  Bedford  fell  in  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Colonel  Barrett,  who  continued  on  horse- 
back, giving  orders  to  volunteers  as  they  came  in 
from  other  towns. 

The  road  being  narrow  and  somewhat  obstructed 
by  large  stones,  etc.,  it  was  impossible  to  form 
many  men  in  battle  array,  even  if  they  had  been 
drilled  soldiers. 

Major  Buttrick  took  command  of  the  Ameri- 
cans in  the  forward  movement.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  Lieutenant-colonel  Robinson  :  thus  they 
marched  to  the  scene  of  conflict. 

The  British,  scattered  about  in  groups  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  river,  formed  and  recrossed,  and 
were  joined  by  the  men  who  were  on  the  hill  near 
by.  The  attempt  of  the  British  to  destroy  the 
bridge  called  from  Major  Buttrick  the  order  to 
march  in  a  quick  step.  This  caused  the  enemy 
to  cease  the  destruction  which  might  be  the  means 
of  injury  to  Captain  Parsons's  detachment  when 
returning  to  the  centre. 

The  British  fired  two  or  three  guns,  probably 
a  signal  for  the  distant  detachments  to  return. 


INCIDENTS  OF  CONCORD  FIGHT  III 

When  the  Americans  were  within  a  few  rods  of 
the  bridge,  one  of  the  regulars,  a  sharpshooter, 
stepped  from  the  ranks  and  fired,  evidently  at 
Major  Buttrick  or  Colonel  Robinson.  The  ball 
slightly  wounded  Luther  Blanchard,  the  fifer  of 
the  Acton  company,  and  Jonas  Brown,  a  Concord 
minute-man. 

Then  followed  a  volley,  by  which  Captain  Isaac 
Davis  and  Private  Abner  Hosmer  of  Acton  were 
killed,  a  ball  piercing  the  heart  of  the  former,  and 
another  the  head  of  the  latter.  Ezekiel  Davis, 
brother  of  Isaac,  was  slightly  wounded.  Joshua 
Brooks  of  Lincoln  was  struck  by  a  ball  that  cut 
through  his  hat  and  drew  blood  on  his  forehead. 
The  appearance  was  like  that  of  a  cut  from  a 
knife,  and  "I  concluded,"  said  Private  Baker, 
"that  the  British  were  firing  jackknives." 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Major  Buttrick, 
jumping  from  the  ground,  exclaimed,  "  Fire,  fel- 
low-soldiers !  For  God's  sake,  fire  !  "  discharging 
his  own  gun  at  the  same  moment. 

"Fire!  fire!"  was  heard  down  the  line,  the 
caution  against  being  the  beginners  of  the  war 
was  now  without  force.  The  privilege  to  finish 
it  was  for  the  Americans. 

The  order  was  readily  obeyed.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments the  British  broke  and  fled  in  great  confu- 
sion. Two  British  soldiers  were  killed,  and  a  full 
dozen  were  wounded. 

The   black-handled  and   brass-hilted  sword   of 


112 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


one  of  the  British  officers  was  captured  among 
other  things.  It  bears  this  inscrip- 
tion: "X°  RG*.  C^  VI.     No.  lo." 

The  two  British  soldiers  killed  at 
the  bridge  were  buried  where  they 
fell,  by  the  Americans.  The  spot 
was  for  a  long  time  marked  by  two 
rude  stones  only,  but  later  received 
a  more  fitting  recognition. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  years 
have  served  to  efface  almost  all  traces 
of  the  struggle.  A  bullet-hole  made 
in  Elisha  Jones's  house,  now  the 
residence  of  Hon.  John  S.  Keyes, 
is  still  visible,  and  attracts  the  eye 
of  the  tourist. 

Other  incidents  will  be  noticed 
under  other  subjects,  or  in  connec- 
tion with  the  story  of  other  homes 

where  important  events  occurred. 


CONCORD  HOMES  OF  HISTORY  IN  1775      II3 

CHAPTER   XI 

CONCORD    HOMES    OF    HISTORY    IN    1 775 

The  names  of  Barrett  and  Buttrick  are  confus- 
ing to  the  student  of  history  not  familiar  with  the 
town  of  Concord.  Both  homesteads  are  now  in 
■possession  of  the  descendants  of  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution,  and  are  here  described. 

The  Barrett  homestead  is  about  two  miles  from 
Old  North  Bridge,  and  having  a  mill  in  connec- 
tion with  it,  and  being  the  home  of  Colonel  James 
Barrett,  was  one  of  the  objective  points  of  the 
British  visitation. 

The  name  of  Barrett  has  been  prominent  in  the 
history  of  Concord  for  two  hundred  and  fifty-five 
years. 

Humphrey  Barrett  came  to  Concord  from  Eng- 
land about  1640,  and  was  the  head  of  the  large 
and  influential  family.  He  died  in  1662,  and  his 
wife  died  one  year  later. 

In  the  record  of  divisions,  a  sort  of  proving  of 
claims,  etc.,  made  in  1663,  there  are  eleven  lots, 
containing  316  acres,  credited  to  Humphrey  Bar- 
rett. This  owner  was  doubtless  Humphrey  2d, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the  grant,  which  passed 
to  his  son  Joseph  (captain),  and  then  to  his  son 
Humphrey,  and  to  Humphrey  of  the  fifth  genera- 


114  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

tion,  and  then  to  Abel  B.  Haywood,  A  legacy  of 
five  hundred  dollars  to  the  ministerial  fund  of  the 
town  of  Concord  keeps  the  name  of  Humphrey  of 
the  fifth  generation  before  the  people  of  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Positive  proof  of  the  exact  date  of  the  first 
appearance  of  the  family  at  the  Barrett  estate  of 
Revolutionary  fame  is  not  at  hand.  The  above- 
named  registry  gives  it  as  property  of  Richard 
Temple  in  1663  (5  lots,  or  291  acres).  It  is  ap- 
parent that  Benjamin,  son  of  Humphrey  2d,  born 
in  1 68 1,  located  here,  with  his  wife  Lydia  Minot, 
to  whom  he  was  married  in  January,  1704,  and 
that  their  eight  children  were  born  here.  Benja- 
min died  in  1728  ;  and  the  farm  was  later  divided 
into  three,  each  of  which  was  occupied  by  Barretts. 

Colonel  James,  the  third  son  of  Benjamin,  born 
in  1 710,  inherited  the  homestead,  and  built  the 
house  of  Revolutionary  interest.  He  married 
Rebecca  Hubbard  in  1732,  and  their  nine  children 
were  born  at  this  house. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  their  son 
James  was  established,  with  a  large  family,  in  one 
of  the  three  homes ;  and  his  older  brother,  Deacon 
Thomas,  born  1707,  was  occupying  the  other  home 
with  his  large  family. 

These,  with  the  mill,  made  up  a  Barrett  settle- 
ment, of  much  importance  at  that  time,  and  re- 
mained in  the  family  many  years;  but  at  present 
only  the  original  homestead  remains  in  the  name. 


CONCORD  HOMES  OF  HISTORY  lAT  1775      II5 

Colonel  James  Barrett  was  a  leading  figure  dur- 
ing the  opening  year  of  the  struggle  for  liberty. 
In  1768  he  was  chosen  a  representative  from  Con- 
cord, and  honored  by  a  re-election  on  each  suc- 
ceeding year  until  1777.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  many  of  the  conventions,  and  also  of 
the  Provincial  Congress.  He  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  military  stores  deposited  at  Concord,  and 
was  active  in  gathering  and  manufacturing  army 
supplies.  He  was  made  colonel  of  the  regiment 
of  militia  organized  in  March,  1775,  and  was  in 
command  on  April   19. 

When  the  alarm  of  the  march  of  the  British 
reached  Colonel  Barrett's  home,  the  family  made 
haste  to  secure  the  stores  that  were  on  the  estate. 
Cannon  were  dismounted,  placed  in  the  field  near 
the  house,  and  covered  by  turning  furrows  over 
them  ;  while  the  new  gun-carriages  were  taken  to 
a  place  of  safety  in  the  rear  of  the  home,  known 
to  this  day  as  Spruce  Gutter. 

Colonel  Barrett's  duties  were  twofold  on  that 
eventful  morning.  He  not  only  had  to  look  after 
the  stores,  which  he  well  knew  to  be  the  main 
object  of  the  morning  excursion,  but  he  had  to 
see  to  the  gathering  of  his  regiment  It  was 
while  he  was  engaged  with  the  latter  that  the 
regulars,  under  Captain  Parsons,  marched  to  the 
Barrett  farm,  directed,  doubtless,  by  Daniel  l^liss, 
the  Tory  of  the  town.  They  committed  many 
depredations,  and  were  foiled  in  many  attempts 


Il6  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

by  the  shrewdness  of  a  woman.  They  pulled 
Deacon  Thomas  Barrett,  brother  of  Colonel 
James,  from  his  house  by  the  hair  of  his  head, 
but  gave  him  up  upon  his  own  plea  of  old  age 
and  inability  to  do  harm. 

These  brothers  died  within  three  months  of 
each  other  in  1779,  without  fully  realizing  the  im- 
portance of  their  proceedings  on  April  19,  1775. 

The  old  house  still  stands,  and  serves  the  de- 
scendants of  the  hero  of  that  day ;  and  the  mill 
grinds  for  other  purposes  than  the  preparation  of 
food  for  the  army. 

The  Barrett  house  of  to-day  is  very  much  the 
same  as  in  1775.  The  end  door  through  which 
the  soldiers  of  the  king  passed  still  swings  on 
the  time-honored  hinges,  and  the  doorstone  is  the 
same  as  when  pressed  by  the  feet  of  the  enemy. 
In  the  flooring  of  one  room  may  be  seen  a  place 
where  a  board  has  been  inserted  to  fill  a  hole  said 
to  have  been  made  by  the  fall  of  a  cannon-ball 
during  the  haste  of  that  morning.  It  was  in  this 
room  that  Colonel  James  Barrett  mustered  in  the 
soldiers  after  his  appointment  to  office. 

One  of  the  British  soldiers,  named  Thorpe,  who 
aided  in  searching  the  house  on  that  memorable 
morning,  deserted  from  the  king's  army,  visited 
the  Barrett  home,  and  was  later  employed  on  the 
farm,  where  he  fully  appreciated  that  food  which 
he  so  hastily  sampled  in  the  absence  of  the  mas- 
ter of  the  house. 


CONCORD  HOMES  OF  HISTORY  IN  1115      WJ 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  James  Barrett,  this 
farm  went  to  his  son  Peter,  who  was  twenty  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  the  invasion.  He  married 
Mary  Prescott  of  Dan  vers,  and  had  seven  chil- 
dren. During  the  years  of  Peter's  possession, 
the  farm  was  mortgaged  ;  and  had  it  not  been 
for  another  famous  patriot  the  estate  would  have 
been  lost  to  the  Barrett  family.  Roger  Sher- 
man, the  patriot  of  Connecticut,  whose  name 
appears  upon  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
having  married  a  sister  of  Peter's  wife,  came  to 
the  rescue,  and  saved  the  historic  estate. 

After  the  death  of  Peter,  in  1808,  his  son  Pres- 
cott came  into  possession.  He  was  born  in  1788, 
married  twice,  and  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
George  is  the  present  owner.  He  represents  the 
seventh  generation  of  the  family.  The  spinning- 
wheel  and  flax-wheel  which  were  kept  humming 
in  busy  preparations  for  the  soldiers  are  still  in 
the  family  possession  ;  the  pewter  tableware  from 
which  the  soldiers  lunched  is  scattered  throughout 
the  families  ;  while  Peter's  clock,  exchanged  for 
neighbor  Joseph  Clark's  cow,  is  now  owned  in 
that  family  by  Mr.  Tower. 

BUTTRICK    HOMESTEAD. 

This  IS  of  interest  from  the  fact  that  the  But- 
trick  family  dates  back  to  the  beginning  of  civil- 
ized life  in  Concord. 


Il8  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

William,  the  head  of  the  family,  was  born  in 
England  about  1617.  He  was  a  co-worker  with 
Rev.  Peter  Bulkeley,  Hon.  Thomas  Flint,  and 
others  of  that  little  company  who  pushed  out 
from  tide-water,  and  began  that  settlement  at 
Musketaquid  (Concord)  in  1635. 

In  the  record  of  1635,  twelve  lots  of  215  acres 
are  credited  to  William  Buttrick.  The  homestead 
of  the  present  comprises  a  portion  of  that  terri- 
tory, and  is  one  of  the  very  few  estates  that  have 
never  been  sold  out  of  the  family  name  in  the  his- 
toric town. 

William  Buttrick  had  a  share  of  the  "Com- 
mons" in  the  first  allotment,  where  he  established 
his  home  on  the  southerly  slope  of  the  hill,  be- 
yond the  river,  to  which  his  meadows  extended. 
Here  his  descendants  of  the  seventh  generation 
enjoy  a  prosperous  home,  and  cherish  the  acres  of 
their  illustrious  ancestors. 

In  the  course  of  family  descent  and  settlement 
of  estates,  divisions  of  the  original  territory  have 
necessarily  been  made ;  but  a  good  portion  re- 
mains, and  every  visitor  to  the  Old  Battleground 
treads  upon  a  portion  of  the  Buttrick  farm,  which 
was  given  by  Stedman  Buttrick,  and  on  which 
the  Minute-Man  stands. 

It  was  Deacon  Jonathan  Buttrick,  of  the  third 
generation,  whose  memory  is  perpetuated  by  the 
epitaph  upon  his  gravestone.  He  died  March 
23>    '^7^7 i   aged    77,  and    "was   followed   to   the 


CONCOkD  HOMES  OE  niSTORY  JiV  1775      II9 

grave  by  his  widow  and  thirteen  well-instructed 
children."  Four  of  these  sons  and  several  grand- 
sons were  in  arms  on  the  morning  of  April  19, 
1775,  for  the  Colonial  cause. 


BuTTRiCK  Homestead 


The  sixth  son  of  Deacon  Jonathan  Buttrick 
was  John,  who  was  in  command  at  the  battle  of 
Concord,  and  was  the  "  hero  of  the  fight."  He 
led  the  gallant  band  to  meet  the  invading  enemy 
at  North  Bridge. 

His  words  of  command,  uttered  within  sight  of 
his  own  hearthstone  and  in  the  presence  of  his 
anxious  family,  are  too  familiar  to  need  repeti- 


120  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

tion  here.  Major  John's  son  and  namesake,  then 
nineteen  years  of  age,  was  a  fifer  in  the  battle 
of  Concord ;  and  Jonas,  too  young  to  enter  the 
ranks,  viewed  the  memorable  scene  from  behind 
a  buttonwood-tree  that  stood  near  the  present 
dwelling. 

Major  John  Buttrick  divided  his  estate  between 
his  sons  John  and  Jonas.  The  latter  occupied 
the  site  of  the  present  dwelling,  where  his  son 
Stedman  maintained  the  family  integrity,  and 
transmitted  estate  and  good  name  to  the  present 
owners,  who  occupy  the  old  homestead,  and  con- 
tinue the  enviable  reputation  of  the  fathers. 

In  the  last  will  of  Major  John  Buttrick  is  a 
good  example  of  the  manner  in  which  the  head  of 
the  family,  one  hundred  years  ago,  provided  for 
his  wife  in  her  years  of  widowhood.  Besides  giv- 
ing her  the  use  of  his  dwelling,  he  provided  that 
his  sons  should  "  bring  into  my  wife  and  their 
mother,  lOO  pounds  of  beef,  .well  fatted;  six 
bushels  of  Indian  corn  ;  six  bushels  of  rye,  ground 
into  meal  if  she  desires  it ;  one  bushel  of  malt ; 
one  bushel  of  salt ;  one  barrel  of  cider ;  one  bar- 
rel of  good  winter  apples  ;  two  pounds  of  tea  ;  14 
pounds  of  sugar ;  six  pounds  of  candles  ;  together 
with  two  silver  dollars  yearly,  and  a  sufificiency  of 
sauce  of  every  kind  at  all  seasons  of  the  year ; 
and  firewood  cut  fit  for  the  fire  sufficient  for  one 
good  fire,  and  carried  into  the  house. 

"  In  case  of  sickness  or  indisposition  of  body, 


CONCORD  HOMES  OF  HISTORY  IN  1775      121 

to  provide  for  her  necessaries  in  such  case,  also 
keep  one  cow  summer  and  winter  for  my  wife, 
and  drive  and  fetch  said  cow  from  pasture  in  the 
summer ;  and  she  shall  have  a  horse  with  suitable 
tackling  to  ride  when  and  where  she  pleases." 

No  costly  monument  marks  the  resting-place  of 
him  who  led  the  Provincials  at  Old  North  Bridge, 
but  thousands  of  patriotic  tourists  annually  seek 
out  the  humble  grave,  and  read  :  — 

IN   MEMORY   OF 

COLONEL  JOHN   BUTTRICK, 

WHO  COMMANDED  THE   MILITIA  COMPANIES  WHICH  MADE 

THE  FIRST  ATTACK  UPON  THE  BRITISH   TROOPS,  AT  CONCORD 

NORTH    BRIDGE,    ON   THE    I9TH   OF  APRIL,    1 775. 

Having  zvitA  patriotic  Jirtntiess  shared  in  the  dangers  ivhich  led  to 
American  Independence,  he  lived  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  it,  and 
died  May  16,  ijgi,  aged  bo  years.  Having  laid  down  the  sword 
with  honor,  he  resumed  the  plough  with  industry  ;  by  the  latter  to 
maintain  what  the  former  had  won.  The  virtues  of  the  parent, 
citizen,  and  Christian  adorned  his  life,  and  his  worth  was  acknowl- 
edged by  the  grief  and  respect  of  all  ranks  at  his  death. 


122  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   XII 

A  CONCORD  patriot's  SECRET 

It  was  in  the  autumn  of  1858  that  I  made  my 
first  visit  to  Old  Concord ;  and  having  intrusted 
my  all  (four  dollars),  the  result  of  a  season's 
labor,  to  the  safe  keeping  of  the  savings-bank,  I 
descended  the  steps  of  that,  to  me,  pretentious 
building,  went  out  on  to  the  "milldam,"  and 
looked  around.  To  a-boy  of  less  than  ten  years, 
and  those  spent  in  close  application  upon  a  rocky 
farm,  even  a  glimpse  into  Concord  of  those  days 
was  a  revelation  hardly  dreamed  of. 

"There  are  'queer  people'  over  there  in  that 
town,"  said  my  grandmother  when  putting  a  bit 
of  lunch  into  my  pocket  "lest  I  be  faint."  I  was 
thus  prepared  to  take  some  observations  in  that 
line.  I  was  anxious  to  see  some  of  those  people, 
peculiar  to  Old  Concord,  whom  the  unapprecia- 
tive  of  the  world  designated  as   "  queer  people." 

To  have  heard  my  own  voice  in  asking  a  ques- 
tion would  have  so  frightened  me  as  to  have  cast 
a  shadow  forever  over  the  memory  of  that  first 
visit. 

People,   not  unlike  those  familiar  to  me,  came 


A    CONCORD  PATRIOT'S  SECRET 


123 


and  went,  as  I  stood  at  an  unobserved  corner; 
and  I  began  to  conclude  that  the  "  queer  people  " 
must  all  be  hermits,  and  had  retired  for  the  day 
from  the  gaze  of  the  world,  when  my  attention 
was  attracted  to 
a  group  of  boys 
apparently  listen- 
ing to  an  old  man 
addressing  his 
conversation  to 
them.  Having  a 
liking  for  old  peo- 
ple, and  believ- 
ing that  the  cen- 
tral figure  of  the 
group  must  be 
one  of  those 
strange  charac- 
ters, preaching  a 
strange  doctrine, 
that  I  had  been 
faithfully  warned 
against,  I  quietly  made  my  way  towards  him. 
"Sure  enough,"  thought  I,  "here  is  one  of 
them."  Queer  enough  to  look  at !  He  was  a 
little  old  man,  with  a  wrinkled,  russet  face,  bor- 
dered by  a  few  stray  bristles  that  had  escaped  the 
razor's  search.  His  hat  was  a  sort  of  half  apology 
for  an  ancient  bell  top.  His  outside  garment  was 
a  loose  frock  of  a  mixed  bluish  color,  that  covered 


EiiiiNEZER  Hubbard 


124  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

his  bowed  figure  from  his  ears  to  his  feet  that 
were  encased  in  a  pair  of  stout  cowhide  brogans. 
Queer  as  he  looked,  it  was  nothing  in  comparison 
to  what  he  was  saying,  according  to  my  youthful 
estimation. 

He  was  unmindful  of  the  new  member  of  his 
audience,  who  compared  well  with  the  trim  little 
youngsters  giving  heed  to  the  message  being  de- 
livered with  vehemence  of  temper.  "I  tell  ye, 
boys,  that  monument  stands  where  the  enemy 
was.  Queer  piece  of  business  to  put  up  a  monu- 
ment where  Gage's  rascals  stood  when  they  killed 
our  men."  This  was  the  burden  of  the  old  man's 
message,  repeated  with  variations,  and  with  as 
much  earnestness  as  though  he  was  giving  ex- 
pression to  a  new  idea. 

One  bystander,  who  might  have  been  regarded 
as  a  young  man,  caused  a  little  departure  from 
the  main  line  of  the  old  man's  thought  by  saying, 
"Tell  me.  Uncle  Ebby,  where  did  the  British  find 
the  flour.-*" — "Out  there  where  that  meeting- 
house stands ;  'twas  there  in  my  grandfather's 
malt-house,  and  out  beyond  in  Wheeler's  building 
too;  over  there  was  the  mill,  you  know,"  was  the 
old  man's  reply,  together  with  a  sweeping  gesture 
with  his  cane  towards  the  bank  from  which  I  had 
just  come. 

With  this  the  old  man  moved  on  a  piece,  took 
new  bearings  from  a  high  board  fence,  and  con- 
tinued, "British.-*     Yes,  them   British  redcoats," 


A   CONCORD  PATRIOT'S  SECRET  I25 

Striking  the  ground  with  his  hickory  cane  in  the 
way  of  emphasis. 

"  They  came  out  here,  destroyed  all  they  could 
get,  tried  to  burn  the  town,  robbed  the  folks,  and 
killed  what  they  could,  till  we  drove  them  off ; 
and  then  these  folks  went  and  put  up  a  monument 
where  the  rascals  stood." 

With  this  utterance  the  old  man  moved  on, 
scuffing  his  feet  with  rage,  and  turned  into  his 
yard,  closing  the  gate  after  him. 

"  Did  you  help  drive  the  British  off  .-* "  cried 
out  a  little  fellow  in  the  earnestness  of  honest 
inquiry,  as  the  old  man  withdrew  from  his  audi- 
ence. The  question,  which  brought  no  reply, 
was  not  unreasonable ;  in  general  appearance  the 
speaker  might  well  have  passed  for  one  who  with- 
stood the  enemy  at  Old  North  Bridge. 

My  neighbor's  familiar  team  came  in  sight ; 
and  I  retired  from  the  group  with  as  little  cere- 
mony as  I  joined  it,  and  was  soon  on  the  way  to 
my  home,  five  miles  away,  I  returned  to  my  peo- 
ple, holding  my  bank-book  tightly  clasped  in  my 
hand  as  evidence  of  my  being  a  person  of  prop- 
erty. I  was  also  enjoying  the  satisfaction  of 
having  seen  one  of  the  "queer  people,"  and  the 
consciousness  of  having  listened  to  some  of  their 
strange  sayings.  But  this  being  in  violation  of 
the  oft-repeated  injunction  of  my  grandmother  to 
shun  all  such  heretics,  I  did  not  dare  to  ask  such 
questions  as  my  curiosity  prompted. 


126  BENEATH  OLD  HOOF  TREES 

Barber's  "History  of  Massachusetts  "  was  one 
of  the  few  books  possessed  by  my  grandparents, 
to  which  I  was  often  directed ;  and  I  made  haste 
to  verify  the  words  of  the  strange  man  by  refer- 
ring to  this  reliable  volume  as  soon  as  opportunity 
permitted.  Turning  to  the  article  on  Concord,  in 
the  description  of  the  monument  I  read,  "  Here, 
on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  was  made  the  first  for- 
cible resistance  to  British  aggression.  On  the 
opposite  bank  stood  the  American  militia.  Here 
stood  the  invading  army ;  and  on  this  spot  the 
first  of  the  enemy  fell  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, which  gave  independence  to  these  United 
States,  In  gratitude  to  God,  and  in  the  love  of 
Freedom,  this  monument  was  erected,  a.d.  1836." 

With  this  unquestionable  evidence,  I  made 
haste  to  declare  my  belief  in  the  man  whom  I  had 
met,  and  my  faith  in  others  who  I  was  told  were 
different  in  manner,  and  had  strange  ideas  about 
the  future  life. 

My  first  lesson  in  patriotism  had  been  taken. 
The  "  queer  man  "  had  made  a  convert.  Boy- 
like, I  lost  no  opportunity  for  ascertaining  the 
name  of  the  stranger  who  had  so  impressed  me, 
and  learned  that  he  was  Ebenezer  Hubbard,  or  as 
many,  in  a  half- familiar,  half-derisive  manner, 
called  him,  "Uncle  Ebby." 

Some  years  passed  before  I  had  occasion  to 
again  visit  the  old  town,  and  then  it  was  in  the 
line  of  business  and  at  regular  intervals.     In  the 


A    CONCORD   PATRIOT'S  SECRET  12/ 

meantime  I  had  become  better  prepared  to  appre- 
ciate that  which  was  making  the  town  of  Concord 
famous  the  world  over. 

My  footsteps  soon  turned  to  an  ancient  burial- 
place  of  the  town,  frequented  by  many  who  were 
prompted  by  a  commendable  sentiment.  While 
there  engaged  in  the  effort  to  decipher  the  epitaph 
on  a  mossgrown  slab,  I  was  startled  by  approach- 
ing footsteps.  An  aged  man  was  coming  down  a 
winding  path  which  entered  the  more  trodden  way 
near  where  I  was  laboring  in  attitude  most  hum- 
ble. I  perceived  him  to  be  the  same  old  man 
whose  words  still  rang  in  my  ears.  His  mo- 
rose countenance  deterred  me  from  making  any 
advances  towards  him  which  my  inclination 
prompted.  I  longed  to  assure  him  that  he  had 
one  sympathizer,  but,  like  many  older  than  myself 
let  an  opportunity  slip  by,  when  by  word  or  ex- 
tended hand  I  might  have  lightened  a  burden. 

Being  curious  to  ascertain  the  object  of  the  old 
man's  visit  to  a  place  familiar  to  every  old  resident 
of  the  town,  I  turned  aside  into  the  byway,  and 
traced  his  footsteps,  expecting  to  find  them  lead 
to  the  grave  of  some  hero  who  in  his  life  had  en- 
tertained sentiments  like  those  so  freely  expressed 
by  the  visitor,  —  some  grave  that  served  as  an 
altar  to  him,  where  he  rekindled  the  fire  of  patri- 
otism, and  from  which  he  returned  to  the  village 
with  new  resolutions  to  redress  the  wrong  that 
burdened  his  mind. 


128  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

My  most  careful  searching  among  the  moss- 
grown  slabs  revealed  no  such  sepulchre ;  but  I 
fancied  that  the  last  visitor  to  the  locality  of  the 
Gun  House  must  have  paused  at  an  unpreten- 
tious slab,  which  told  of  a  young  life  that  closed 
with  the  last  century.  Could  there  be  any  senti- 
ment of  a  nature  indicated  by  the  circumstances 
wrapped  up  in  the  old  man  ?  was  the  thought 
with  which  I  returned  to  the  village  and  to  duty. 

It  was  not  long  before  I  met  Ebenezer  Hub- 
bard at  his  own  threshold.  My  taste  had  often 
led  me  to  scan  closely  the  ancient  estate  in  the 
very  heart  of  Concord.  The  old  dwelling  with  its 
"  lean-to,"  the  time-worn  well-sweep,  the  little 
shop  near  by,  all  surrounded  by  broad  fields  en- 
closed in  part  by  a  forbidding  fence,  appealed 
to  my  sentiment  and  curiosity. 

The  aged  owner  apparently  was  not  entirely 
averse  to  me,  and  as  opportunity  permitted  I  ob- 
tained from  him  the  key  which  unlocked  the 
outer  door  of  his  hidden  self. 

The  homestead  was  originally  the  estate  of 
Robert  Merriam,  one  of  the  three  brothers  who 
came  with  the  very  early  settlers  to  that  town, 
and  having  spent  his  years  as  a  trader,  and  served 
his  fellow-men  as  town  clerk,  commissioner,  repre- 
sentative, and  deacon,  died  in  1681,  soon  followed 
by  his  wife,  Mary  Sheaf e. 

They  left  the  estate  to  a  cousin,  Jonathan  Hub- 
bard,   who   married    Hannah    Rice    of    Sudbury. 


A    CONCORD   PATRIOT'S  SECRET 


129 


Thus  began  a  family  possession  of  almost  two 
hundred  years,  when  the  death  of  the  last  resi- 
dent, Ebenezer,  brought  it  to  an  end.  The  old 
house  was  doubtless  erected  by  Robert  Merriam, 
and  had  seen  more  than  two  centuries  of  service 
when  it  was  destroyed. 


Hubbard  House 

It  was  in  its  original  grandeur  when  the  town 
took  a  hand  in  the  seizure  and  expulsion  of 
Andros,  and  the  change  from  Colonial  to  Provin- 
cial government  took  place.  It  was  old  when 
the  Revolutionary  period  began,  and  in  and  about 
the  house  occurred  incidents  that  tended  to  de- 
velop and  foster  a  spirit  of  patriotism.  It  was  in 
a  storehouse  on  this  farm  that  Gage's  men  de- 


I30  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

stroyed  flour  that  had  been  secreted  for  army  use. 
From  here  went  members  of  the  Hubbard  fam- 
ily into  the  war,  after  being  in  service  on  the 
19th  of  April.  David,  son  of  Jonathan,  went  with 
General  Arnold  in  his  expedition  to  Quebec, 
and  afterwards  served  under  General  Gates  with 
other  Concord  men.  He  was  discharged  from 
the  army  of  General  Gates  in  November,  1776,  on 
account  of  ill  health.  At  one  time  he  was  a 
corporal  in  Captain  Miles's  company  of  Colonel 
Reed's  regiment.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Deacon  Thomas  Barrett,  and  thus  became  con- 
nected with  a  noted  family  of  the  Revolution. 

David  Hubbard  and  young  wife  started  out 
into  the  wilderness  to  establish  a  home  in  south- 
ern New  Hampshire,  and  became  active  in  the 
interests  of  the  town  of  Hancock  soon  after  its  in- 
corporation.    Here  Ebenezer  was  born,  in  1782. 

The  town  being  named  for  John  Hancock,  one 
of  the  original  proprietors,  the  boy  Ebenezer 
Hubbard  became  early  interested  in  him  as  an 
influential  man  of  the  Revolution  ;  and  he  did  not 
lose  his  admiration  for  the  patriot,  although  his 
townsmen  were  disappointed  in  not  receiving 
substantial  aid  from  the  wealthy  merchant  whom 
they  had  complimented. 

Ebenezer  saw  the  rude  meeting-house  erected, 
and  though  young  had  a  share  in  the  welcome 
extended  to  Rev.  Reed  Paige,  who  became  the 
first  minister. 


A    CONCORD  PATRIOT'S  SECRET  131 

The  entire  environments  of  Ebenezer  Hubbard 
during  the  most  impressionable  period  of  his  life 
were  hard  and  severe.  Self-denial  was  necessarily 
practised  at  every  turn.  He  saw  the  meeting- 
house paid  for,  and  the  minister's  salary  provided, 
by  means  of  barter.  He  had  most  naturally  ac- 
quired habits  of  frugality  before  leaving  his  native 
town,  which  he  did  at  the  age  of  about  ten  years. 

Born  of  parents  who  were  ardent  patriots,  and 
in  a  town  that  had  recognized  the  valuable  ser- 
vices of  one  of  the  early  patriots  of  Massachu- 
setts, the  boy  Ebenezer  was  well  established  in 
the  principles  of  the  colonists  before  he  took  up 
his  abode  at  Concord  with  his  grandfather,  whose 
name  he  bore. 

Here  the  fireside  tales  of  ''j6  assumed  a  double 
reality,  and  the  old  home  around  which  the  en- 
emy had  trodden  became  sacred  to  him.  He 
boasted  that  John  Hancock,  when  presiding  in 
his  official  capacity  over  the  Provincial  Congress, 
had  been  entertained  in  the  room  which  he  oc- 
cupied. 

In  the  practice  of  the  habits  early  acquired, 
together  with  the  additional  advantages  of  the 
schools  of  Concord,  the  boy  developed  into  man- 
hood, gradually  adding  to  the  estate  which  he 
inherited. 

His  mother,  as  Mrs.  Nutting,  made  the  home  a 
place  of  delight  to  him  for  a  while,  until  shadows 
fell  across  his  pathway,  and  all  light  seemed  to 


132  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

be  darkness  about  him.  He  had  a  mechanical 
taste,  and  spent  much  time  in  the  seclusion  of 
his  little  workshop,  near  to  the  back  door  of  his 
dwelling. 

The  question  of  the  erection  of  a  monument  to 
commemorate  the  events  of  April  19,  1775,  met 
with  his  hearty  approval,  and  the  patriotism  of 
his  youth  reasserted  itself.  It  seemed  as  though 
the  void  of  his  life  was  to  be  partially  met  when 
the  granite  shaft  was  decided  upon  ;  but  when  it 
was  located,  in  1836,  there  was  no  bound  to  his 
indignation.  From  that  time  till  his  death,  he 
continued  to  reiterate  his  disapproval  of  the  act 
in  the  language  that  he  was  using  when  I  first 
met  him. 

When  the  Trinitarian  church  was  formed,  in 
1826,  Mr.  Hubbard  gave  the  land  for  the  erection 
of  the  meeting-house.  It  occupies  the  site  of  the 
building  where  the  flour  was  stored  which  Gage's 
men  scattered  over  the  fields  until  there  was  the 
appearance  of  a  light  fall  of  snow. 

Far  be  it  from  any  one  to  impugn  the  motives 
of  the  donor  in  this  gift  of  a  portion  of  his  ances- 
tral homestead  for  so  good  a  purpose ;  but  the  act 
being  so  contrary  to  his  ordinary  habit,  and  so 
regretful  to  him  in  after  years,  it  seemed  to  have 
been  actuated  by  an  acrimonious  spirit  in  some 
direction.  In  later  years  no  obstacle  seemed  to 
be  too  hideous  for  him  to  place  within  range  of 
the  meeting-house.     As  time  advanced,  and  age 


A    CONCORD  PATRIOT'S  SECRET  1 33 

crept  on,  his  natural  characteristics  strengthened, 
the  thoughtless  acts  of  the  careless  irritated  him, 
and  there  were  but  few  in  whom  he  placed  any 
confidence.  An  aversion  for  the  gentler  sex,  in- 
dividually and  as  a  class,  seemed  to  dominate  his 
life.  At  times  he  had  the  service  of  a  family  in 
his  dwelling;  but  in  the  last  of  his  days  he  lived 
alone,  placing  but  little  confidence  in  any  one. 

The  writer  was  one  of  the  few  who  had  a  tem- 
porary place  in  his  esteem.  In  the  little  shop, 
and  also  in  the  rude  kitchen,  Mr.  Hubbard,  when 
past  fourscore  years  of  age,  repeated  to  his  new 
friend  the  one  known  burden  of  his  heart.  'Twas 
the  same  that  I  had  already  heard  from  his  lips- 
It  did  not  seem  like  the  act  of  an  old  man  in  his 
dotage,  inflicted  upon  young  and  old  in  season 
and  out  of  season,  but  rather  the  bubbling  of  a 
pent-up  stream  from  a  deep-seated  fountain  of 
patriotism. 

"Justice  will  never  be  done  in  my  day,"  were 
the  words  of  conclusion,  as  he  regretfully  shook 
his  aged  form  and  turned  to  other  subjects. 

On  Oct.  3,  1871,  a  bright  autumn  morning,  I 
entered  the  gate,  walked  up  the  pathway  strewn 
with  the  most  richly  tinted  foliage  that  had  fallen 
during  the  night,  and  into  the  door  unannounced 
as  was  my  custom.  In  the  little  dingy  kitchen  of 
the  ''  lean-to,"  in  an  old  straight-back  chair,  sat 
the  form  of  Ebenezer  Hubbard,  his  staff  still 
erect,  but  the  hand  of   the  owner  had  loosened 


134  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

its  grasp  upon  this  support  and  upon  all  of  this 
world's  possessions. 

The  proper  authorities  came,  and  in  the  name 
of  the  law  performed  those  services  which  affec- 
tion failed  to  do.  The  old  saddle-bags  gave  up 
their  long-hidden  load  of  gold  and  silver  coin,  the 
family  Bible  its  well-worn  scrip  ;  and  the  hoarded 
wealth  being  gathered  from  all  its  hiding-places, 
the  aged  form  was  borne  to  the  Town  Hall,  where 
the  rite  of  sepulchre  was  performed,  and  then 
consigned  to  a  grave  in  Sleepy  Hollow.  None 
could  have  been  more  beautiful  for  situation,  but 
very  different  from  his  desire,  which  might  have 
been  granted  had  he  been  able  to  so  control  a 
certain  characteristic  of  his  nature  as  to  intrust 
to  another  the  key  to  the  inner  secret  of  his 
blighted  life.  A  clause  in  the  last  will  of  Mr. 
Hubbard  reads  thus  :  "  I  hereby  order  my  execu- 
tor aforesaid  to  procure,  if  possible,  a  burial-lot  in 
the  middle  burying-ground  in  said  Concord,  on 
the  northerly  side  of  the  road  leading  from  the 
"centre  of  said  Concord  to  Bedford,  and  opposite 
the  Gun  House,  or  if  my  said  executor  cannot 
procure  such  burial-lot  there,  then  in  any  other 
burying-ground  in  said  Concord  to  procure  a  suit- 
able lot,  and  on  such  burial-lot  to  erect  a  suitable 
monument,  with  an  inscription  thereon,  and  to 
fence  said  burial-lot,  the  expense  not  to  exceed 
two  thousand  dollars  ;  and  it  is  my  express  wish, 
if  circumstances  will  permit,  that  the  remains  of 


A    CONCORD  PATRIOT'S  SECRET  1 35 

my  beloved  mother,  buried  at  Groton  .  .  .  and  of 
my  brother  Silas  B.  Hubbard,  buried  in  the  State 
of  Illinois,  should  be  removed  ...  to  my  said 
burial-lot,  and  there  buried  beside  my  body." 

The  possible  requests  were  carried  out.  An 
imposing  granite  monument  tells  the  simple  story 
of  mortality. 

The  winding  pathway  through  the  ancient  bur- 
ial-ground terminates  not  at  a  little  mossgrown 
slab  near  the  Gun  House,  but  is  lost  in  the  con- 
tinual passing  of  the  curious  of  the  world. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  close  of  the  life  at  the 
old  homestead,  a  clergyman  of  Concord  returned 
to  his  people  and  pulpit  to  regretfully  learn  that  a 
service  which  Mr.  Hubbard  had  requested  of 
him,  an  almost  entire  stranger,  had  of  necessity 
been  performed  by  another.  This  request  was  in 
keeping  with  much  of  the  life  that  had  closed. 

The  minister  was  a  lone  star,  and  of  a  nature 
which  seemed  to  meet  the  wants  of  one  about  to 
sink  beyond  the  western  horizon.  In  the  fulfil- 
ment of  his  promise,  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  opened  the 
closed  door,  and  let  the  world  look  for  a  moment 
at  a  heart  pierced  in  early  youth  by  Cupid's  dart. 

The  one  well-known  desire  of  Ebenezer  Hub- 
bard was  not  gratified  in  his  lifetime,  but  that 
which  was  denied  him  was  brought  about  in  part 
through  a  provision  of  his  will. 

"  I  order  my  executor  to  pay  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  dollars  towards  building  a  monument  in 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


Statue  of  Minute  Man,  Concord. 


said  town  of 
Concord  on  the 
spot  where  the 
Americans  fell, 
on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river 
from  the  pres- 
ent monument, 
in  the  battle 
of  the  19th  of 
April,   1775." 

He  also  in- 
trusted a  friend 
with  the  sum  of 
six  hundred  dol- 
lars towards  the 
erection  of  a 
bridge  across 
the  river,  at  the 
place  where  the 
famous  Old 
North  Bridge 
"arched  the 
flood." 

Thelandwhich 
he  so  much  cov- 
eted for  a  pub- 
lic purpose  was 
deeded  to  the 
town     by    Mr. 


A    CONCORD   PATRIOT'S  SECRET  1 3/ 

Stedman  Buttrick,  who  thus  dedicated  to  the  cause 
of  liberty  the  ground  on  which  his  grandfather 
stood  when  in  command  of  the  Americans  he 
uttered  the  memorable  words,  "  Fire,  fellow- 
soldiers  !  for  God's  sake,  fire  !  " 

Other  gifts  were  made  ;  and  on  April  19,  1875, 
the  completed  work  was  unveiled  to  the  worlu  ; 
and  thus  was  Ebenezer  Hubbard's  longing  grati- 
fied, but  too  late  for  him  to  enjoy. 

The  patriotism  of  Mr.  Hubbard  was  also  mani- 
fested in  gifts  of  one  thousand  dollars  each  to  the 
poor  and  to  the  public  library  of  Concord,  and  also 
of  his  native  town,  Hancock,  N.H. 

To  the  value  of  the  early  impressions  received 
during  his  life  with  the  struggling  settlers  of 
Hancock,  Mr.  Hubbard  testified  through  the  gift 
of  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  Bible  Society  of 
Massachusetts,  incorporated  in  the  year  18 10. 

The  death  of  Ebenezer  Hubbard  marks  the 
beginning  of  a  new  epoch  in  the  development  of 
Old  Concord.  With  the  close  of  his  life  there 
terminated  two  centuries  of  Hubbard  posses- 
sion. This  farm  was  a  most  desirable  location 
for  building  purposes.  The  broad  acres,  coveted 
by  many,  were  purchased  by  a  syndicate  of  pro- 
gressive citizens.  The  ancient  dwelling  was 
taken  down,  the  unsightly  obstacles  removed,  and 
a  broad  avenue  cut  through  the  farm,  on  which 
have  been  erected  some  of  the  best  residences  of 
the  town. 


138 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


The  old  elms  which  mark  the  site  of  the  old 
house,  and  the  new  street  through  the  farm,  are 
all  that  remind  the  people  of  to-day  of  the  little 
old  man,  Ebenezer  Hubbard. 


Battle  Monument  at  Concord. 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  ACTON  PATRIOTS  1 39 


CHAPTER    XIII 

FOOTPRINTS  OF  ACTON  PATRIOTS 

Acton  was  one  of  the  first  towns  to  respond 
to  the  midnight  alarm.  It  affords  no  more  fitting 
place  to-day  from  which  to  tell  its  story  than  the 
old  Faulkner  residence,  where  glowed  the  watch- 
fires  of  patriotism  long  before  the  Revolution. 

The  recurring  attacks  by  the  Indians  necessi- 
tated the  erection  of  houses  for  safety,  to  which 
the  scattered  settlers  might   flee. 

The  ancient  home  of  the  Faulkner  family  at 
South  Acton  is  one  of  those  garrisons,  or  strong 
houses,  of  the  territory  originally  included  in  Old 
Concord. 

The  first  of  the  Faulkner  name  in  this  country 
was  Edmond,  who  came  to  Salem,  and  thence  to 
Andover,  which  latter  place  he  bought  of  an  In- 
dian chief  for  twenty  gallons  of  rum  and  a  red 
coat. 

The  records  of  Andover  show  him  to  have  been 
the  leader  in  founding  the  church  there  in  1645. 
He  was  then  a  selectman,  and  was  town  clerk  in 
1674-5. 

During  King  Philip's  war,  in  1676,  his  house 
was  burned,  and  his  cattle  were  killed.     The  mar- 


I40 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 


riage  of  Edmond  Faulkner  with  Miss  Dorothy 
Robinson,  Feb.  4,  1647,  was  the  first  recorded 
in  Andover,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by 
John  Winthrop.  The  first  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, Francis,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Francis  Dane  of  that  town.  She  was  one  of  the 
unfortunates  of  two  centuries  ago  who  were  ac- 


Faulkner  Residence 


cused  of    witchcraft.       She   was    tried,   and  con- 
demned to  death,  but  escaped  the  gallows. 

Ammiruhammah,  son  of  Francis  and  Abigail, 
and  grandson  of  Edmond  and  Dorothy,  was  the 
first  settler  in  the  present  town  of  Acton.  He 
built  the  house,  which  has  seen  nearly  two  centu- 
ries of  existence.     It  has  the  impress  of  age  upon 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  ACTON  PATRIOTS         14I 

it,  and  it  deepens  as  one  turns  for  a  careful  look. 
The  huge  chimney  confronts  you  at  once ;  it  is 
nine  feet  square,  and  is  the  centre  of  strength  of 
the  structure.  The  solid  oak  timbers,  fully  eigh- 
teen inches  square,  are  apparent  at  every  corner  ; 
the  gashes  made  by  the  woodman's  axe  are  as 
plainly  visible  as  when  they  were  hewn  in  the 
forest. 

The  room  on  the  left  of  the  front  door  is  of 
peculiar  interest  :  its  casements  of  brick  were 
built  to  keep  out  the  bullets  of  the  enemy.  One 
hundred  people  may  be  accommodated  in  this 
room. 

The  house  was  for  many  years  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice. Colonel  Francis  Faulkner  was  the  magis- 
trate, and  in  this  large  room  the  courts  were  held. 
In  the  top  of  the  door  leading  to  the  "living- 
room  "  may  be  seen  two  small  round  openings, 
through  which  anxious  friends  viewed  the  tribunal 
when  Colonel  Faulkner  was  on  the  bench. 

The  garret  of  this  ancient  dwelling  is  a  curios- 
ity-shop. No  "vendue  "  has  ever  been  held,  hence 
the  accumulation  of  foot-stoves,  warming-pans, 
handirons,  tin  ovens  and  bakers,  settles,  spinning- 
wheels,  loom-reels,  etc. 

The  window-glass,  of  diminutive  size,  is  the 
very  same  through  which  five  generations  of  the 
Faulkners  have  reviewed  the  scenes  without,  none 
of  which  caused  more  anxiety  than  those  of  April 
19.  1775- 


142  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

During  the  Revolution,  Colonel  Faulkner  was 
the  leader  of  the  town  in  military  affairs  as  .well 
as  in  legal  and  civic.  The  highway  ended  at  his 
house  ;  and  to  reach  the  dwelling  one  must  cross 
the  stream,  Great  Brook  as  it  was  called  by  the 
early  settlers.  The  noise  of  one  crossing  the 
bridge  had  long  been  the  signal  of  a  caller. 

Francis  Faulkner,  Jun.,  was  lying  awake  early 
on  the  morning  of  April  19,  1775,  and  listening  to 
the  clatter  of  a  horse's  feet.  Suddenly  he  leaped 
from  his  bed,  ran  to  his  father's  room,  and  cried 
out,  "  Father,  there's  a  horse  coming  on  the  full 
run,  and  he's  bringing  news ! " 

The  horseman  turned  across  the  bridge  and 
up  to  the  house,  and  shouted,  "  Rouse  your  min- 
ute-men, Mr.  Faulkner,  the  British  are  marching 
on  Concord  !  "  And  away  he  went  to  spread  far- 
ther the  news. 

Without  stopping  to  dress,  the  colonel  fired 
three  times,  as  fast  as  he  could  load  and  fire  the 
old  musket. 

The  alarm  sent  out  from  Concord  through  the 
timely  notice  of  Dr.  Prescott  was  early  circulated 
throughout  Acton. 

A  horseman  galloped  to  the  home  of  Captain 
Joseph  Robbins,  and  without  dismounting  banged 
on  the  corner  of  the  house,  and  cried  out,  "  Cap- 
tain Robbins  !  Up  !  Up  !  The  regulars  have 
come  to  Concord!"  John,  a  son,  was  out  of  his 
garret  bed  in  an  instant,  and  soon  on  the  back  of 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  ACTON  PATRIOTS         1 43 

his  father's  old  mare  headed  for  the  house  of  Cap- 
tain Davis,  who  commanded  the  minute-men,  and 
thence  on  to  Deacon  Simon  Hunt's,  who  was  first 
lieutenant  in  the  West  company  of  militia,  and 
commanding  officer  in  place  of  Captain  Faulkner, 
who  had  just  been  promoted  colonel  of  the  Mid- 
dlesex regiment. 

The  Acton  companies  were  not  long  in  gath- 
ering, and  were  soon  on  the  road  to  Old  North 
Bridge. 

Although  they  had  a  most  inadequate  idea  of 
what  was  before  them,  there  were  sad  partings  at 
many  homes. 

The  Acton  minute-men  proved  the  truth  of 
the  words  of  their  captain,  '*  I  haven't  a  man 
that's  afraid  to  go." 

The  events  of  that  day  seem  comparatively  re- 
cent when  we  gather  the  accounts  from  one  who 
had  them  from  the  lips  of  a  participant.  The 
living  son  of  a  man  who  served  at  Concord 
and  Bunker  Hill  is  Luke  Smith  of  Acton.  He 
was  the  youngest  of  thirteen  children,  and,  like 
Joseph  of  old,  the  child  of  his  father's  old  age. 
Solomon  Smith,  like  Jacob  the  Jewish  patriarch, 
had  a  favorite.  It  was  Luke,  his  last-born,  who  is 
the  last  to  tell  his  father's  story.  "  Sitting  upon 
my  father's  knee,"  he  said,  "  in  the  full  enjoyment 
of  the  blessings  of  liberty,  I  received  from  him 
this  account  of  the  eventful  day  of  history  :  "  — 

"The  19th  of  April,  never  to  be  forgotten,  was 


144 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


a  bright,  crisp  morning.     The  sun  had  been  up  a 
full  hour  and  a  half.     We  were  drawn  up  in  line 

when  I  heard  the 
word  of  command 
for  which  we  were 
anxiously  waiting, 
'  March  !  '  How 
those  words  still 
ring  in  my  ears ! 
Luke  Blanchard 
was  our  fifer,  and 
Francis  Barker 
was  the  drummer. 
To  the  tune  of  the 
'White  Cockade' 
we  left  the  town. 
We  were  too  much 
in  haste  for  many 
parting  words.  A 
few  did  run  back  to  say  a  word  to  wife  or  parent. 
"We  followed  the  road  for  a  while,  and  then  left 
it  and  struck  through  the  woods,  a  short  cut  to 
Concord.  We  passed  Barrett's  mill  before  coming 
to  Old  North  Bridge.  How  indignant  we  were 
when  we  first  caught  sight  of  Captain  Parsons's 
detachment,  with  axes,  breaking  up  the  gun-car- 
riages, and  bringing  out  hay  and  wood,  and  set- 
ting fire  to  them  in  the  yard. 

"  We  had  a  good  mind  to  fire  upon  the  red-coated 
soldiers  of  King  George  there  and  then  ;  but  we 


_F> 

1 

-.   T 

0 

4 

Luke  Smith 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  ACTON  PATRIOTS         1 45 

trusted  our  captain,  and  waited  for  his  orders. 
When  I  heard  him  say  to  Colonel  Barrett,  "  I 
have  not  a  man  who  is  afraid  to  go,"  my  heart 
beat  faster  than  the  drum  of  our  company ;  but 
how  my  feelings  changed  when  I  saw  Isaac  Davis 
fall,  and  Abner  Hosmer  by  his  side !  I  then 
thought  of  the  widow  at  home,  whom  a  few  hours 
before  I  had  seen  Isaac  so  tenderly  leave." 

Captain  Isaac  Davis  and  Private  Abner  Hosmer 
fell,  killed  by  the  first  volley  from  the  enemy. 

At  Fisks  Hill,  in  Lexington,  James  Hayward  of 
Acton  was  mortally  wounded.  A  tablet  there,  and 
a  monument  at  Acton,  tell  to  all  people  the  story 
of  the  part  taken  by  the  patriots  of  that  town, 
whose  footprints  will  never  be  effaced. 

AT  THIS   WELL,    APRIL    I9,    1 775, 

JAMES   HAYWARD,    OF   ACTON, 

MET   A   BRITISH   SOLDIER,    WHO,    RAISING   HIS   GUN, 

SAID,    "  YOU    ARE   A    DEAD   MAN." 

"  AND   SO   ARE   YOU,"    REPLIED   HAVWARD. 

BOTH   FIRED  :    THE   SOLDIER   WAS   INSTANTLY 

KILLED,    AND   HAYWARD  MORTALLY 

WOUNDED. 

He  died  on  the  following  day. 

While  his  life  was  ebbing  away,  he  said  to  his 
father,  "Hand  me  my  powder-horn  and  bullet- 
pouch.  I  started  with  one  pound  of  powder  and 
forty  balls.  You  see  what  I  have  left ;  I  never 
did  such  a  forenoon's  work  before." 


146  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

The  powder-horn,  with  the  hole  made  by  the 
bullet  that  caused  his  death,  is  safely  kept  in  that 
town  to-day ;  and  the  shoe-buckles  on  which  are  the 
stains  of  the  blood  of  Captain  Isaac  Davis,  and  also 
his  musket,  are  still  held  as  precious  memorials. 

In  October,  185 1,  a  granite  monument  was 
erected  to  the  memory  of    Acton's  soldiers,  and 


Powder-horn 

under  it  repose  the  remains   of  the  three  brave 
men. 

On  the  monument  is  the  following  :  — 

THE   COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

AND 

THE  TOWN   OF  ACTON, 

CO-OPERATING   TO   PERPETUATE    THE   FAME  OF   THEIR 

GLORIOUS  DEEDS  OF  PATRIOTISM, 

HAVE   ERECTED   THIS  MONUMENT   IN  HONOR   OF 

CAPT.   ISAAC  DAVIS 

AND   PRIVATES   ABNER  HOSMER  AND  JAMES   HAVWARD, 

CITIZEN-SOLDIERS  OF  ACTON  AND  PROVINCIAL  MINUTE-MEN, 

WHO   FELL  IN  CONCORD  FIGHT 

ON  THE    I9TH  DAY   OF  APRIL,    A.D.    1 775. 


FOOTPRINTS   OF  ACTON  PATRIOTS  1 47 

On  the  morning  of  that  eventful  day  the  Provincial  officers  had 
a  council  of  war  near  the  Old  North  Bridge  in  Concord ;  and  as 
they  separated,  Davis  exclaimed,  '*  I  haven't  a  tnan  that  is  afraid 
to  go  !  "  and  immediately  marched  his  company  from  the  left  to  the 
right  of  the  line,  and  led  in  the  first  organized  attack  upon  the 
troops  of  George  III.  in  that  memorable  war,  which,  by  the  help  of 
God,  tnade  the  thirteen  colonies  independent  of  Great  Britain,  and 
gave  political  being  to  the  United  States  of  America. 

Acton,  April  ig,  18 ji.^' 

The  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  towards  the 
erection  of  the  monument  was  granted  by  the 
State  legislature,  and  expended  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Governor  George  S.  Boutwell. 

The  act  was  passed  through  the  efforts  of  Rev. 
James  T.  Woodbury  of  Acton.  His  speech  is 
worthy  the  study  of  every  patriotic  son  of  our 
republic. 

Hon.  George  S.  Boutwell  gives  the  following 
interesting  information  regarding  the  action  of 
Acton  before  the  United  States  republic  was 
declared :  — 

"While  I  was  engaged  in  the  preparation  of  the  address 
which  I  delivered  at  the  dedication  of  the  Acton  monument, 
Oct.  29,  1851,  I  called  the  attention  of  Mr.  Webster  to  the 
resolution  of  the  town  of  Acton  of  June  14,  1776,  in  the 
words  following,  and  which  I  incorporated  in  my  address  :  — 

"The  resolution  contained  these  words:  'The  many 
injuries  and  unheard  of  barbarities  which  the  Colonies  have 
received  from  Great  Britain  confirm  us  in  the  opinion  that 
the  present  age  will  be  deficient  in  their  duty  to  God,  their 
posterity,  and  themselves,  if  they  do  not  establish  an  Ameri- 
can republic.  This  is  the  only  form  of  government  we  wish 
to  see  established.' 


148  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

"  In  my  letter  to  Mr.  Webster  I  enclosed  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  resolution  ;  and  in  reply,  under  the  date  of  Oct.  16, 
1 85 1,  he  said,  '  The  resolutions  of  the  town  of  Acton  of  the 
14th  of  June,  1776,  are  very  remarkable.  The  general  idea 
of  some  union  among  the  several  Colonies,  each  acting 
under  its  separate  government,  is  known,  of  course,  to  have 
prevailed.  The  meeting  at  Albany  is  proof  of  this,  and 
other  evidences  also  to  the  like  effect  are  spread  through  our 
history.  But  the  inhabitants  of  Acton,  with  a  far-seeing 
sagacity,  by  the  resolution  referred  to,  carried  that  opinion 
much  farther,  and  to  a  much  more  important  result.  They 
appear  to  have  contemplated,  not  a  confederacy  or  league 
between  the  States,  but  one  government,  that  is  to  say,  an 
American  republic  for  them  all.  I  am  not  aware  of  any  vote 
or  declaration  by  any  body  of  citizens  to  the  same  or  a  simi- 
lar effect  of  an  earlier  period.' 

"  It  may  be  true  that  in  the  later  days  of  active  and  care- 
ful investigation  earlier  evidence  of  a  like  declaration  may 
have  been  found,  but  such  evidence  has  not  come  under  my 
notice." 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY      1 49 


CHAPTER    XIV 

SPEECH    OF    REV.    JAMES    T.    WOODBURY.  EAGLE 

IN    CONCORD    FIGHT 

REV.  JAMES    T.    WOODBURY'S  SPEECH 

Who  was  Captain  Isaac  Davis  }  Who  was  Ab- 
ner  Hosmer.'*  Who  was  James  H  ay  ward  .^  And 
what  was  Concord  fight .-'  What  did  they  fight 
for,  and  what  did  they  win }  These  were  Massa- 
chusetts Province  militiamen,  not  in  these  good, 
quiet,  piping  times  of  peace,  but  in  1775,  at  the 
very  dark,  gloomy  outbreak  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

Let  us  turn  back  to  the  bloody  annals  of  that 
eventful  day.  Let  us  see,  as  well  as  we  can  at 
this  distance  of  three-quarters  of  a  century,  just 
how  matters  and  things  stood. 

General  Gage  had  full  possession  of  this  city. 
The  flag  that  waved  over  it  was  not  that  of  "  the 
old  pine-tree  ;  "  nor  that  one,  with  that  beautiful 
insignia  over  your  head,  sir,  with  the  uplifted 
right  hand  lettered  over  with  this  most  warlike, 
and,  to  my  taste,  most  appropriate  motto  in  a 
wrongful  world  like  this,  "  Ense  petit placidam,  sub 
libertate  qiiietem."  No,  no  !  It  was  the  flag  of 
that  hereditary  despot,  George  the  Third. 


150  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

And  if  there  had  been  no  Isaac  Davis  or  other 
men  of  his  stamp  on  the  ground  on  that  day,  the 
flag  of  the  crouching  lion,  the  flag  of  Queen  Vic- 
toria, due  successor  to  that  same  hated  George 
the  Third,  first  the  oppressor,  and  then  the  un- 
scrupulous murderer  of  our  fathers,  —  yes,  I  know 
what  I  say,  the  unscrupulous  murderer  of  our 
fathers,  —  would  still  wave  over  this  beautiful 
city,  and  would  now  be  streaming  in  the  wind 
over  every  American  ship  in  this  harbor.  Where, 
in  that  case,  would  have  been  this  legislature  ? 
Why,  sir,  it  would  never  have  been ;  and  my  con- 
scientious friend  from  West  Brookfield,  instead  of 
sitting  here  a  good  "  Free-Soil  "  man  as  he  is, 
would  have  been  called  to  no  such  high  vocation 
as  making  laws  for  a  free  people,  for  the  good  old 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  voting  for  Rob- 
ert Rantoul,  Jun.,  or  Charles  Sumner,  or  Hon. 
Mr.  Winthrop,  to  represent  us  in  a  body  known 
as  the  United  States  Senate,  pronounced  the  most 
august,  dignified  legislative  assembly  in  the  civil- 
ized world.  Oh,  no  !  Far  otherwise !  If  per- 
mitted to  legislate  at  all,  it  would  be  done  under 
the  dictation  of  Queen  Victoria  ;  and  if  he  made 
laws,  it  would  be  with  a  ring  in  his  nose  to  pull 
him  this  way  and  that,  or  with  his  head  in  the 
British  lion's  mouth, — that  same  lion's  mouth 
which  roared  in  1775,  showing  his  teeth  and  lash- 
ing his  sides  at  our  fathers. 

This  city  was  in  full  possession  of  the  enemy, 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY     15I 

and  had  been  for  several  months.  General  Gage 
had  converted  the  house  of  prayer,  the  Old  South 
Church,  —  where  we  met  a  few  days  since,  to  sit, 
delighted  auditors,  to  that  unsurpassed  Election 
Sermon,  —  into  a  riding-school,  a  drilling-place  for 
his  cavalry.  The  pulpit,  and  all  the  pews  of  the 
lower  floor,  were,  with  vandal  violence,  torn  out, 
and  tan  brought  in  ;  and  here  the  dragoons  of 
King  George  practised,  on  their  prancing  war- 
horses,  the  sword  exercise,  with  Tory  ladies  and 
gentlemen  for  spectators  in  the  galleries. 

At  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  it  was  not  "  Ense 
petit placidain,  sub  libertate  qiiietem!'  "  Sub  liber- 
tate  !  "  It  would  have  been  rather  "  sub  vili  ser- 
vitio  !  "  — siib  anything  rather  than  liberty  under 
the  British  Crown. 

Information  had  been  received  from  most  re- 
liable sources  that  valuable"  powder,  ball,  and  other 
munitions  of  war,  were  deposited  in  Concord. 
General  Gage  determined  to  have  them.  Concord 
was  a  great  place  in  '75.  The  Provincial  Con- 
gress had  just  suspended  its  session  there  of  near 
two  months,  adjourning  over  to  the  loth  of  May, 
with  Warren  for  their  president,  and  such  men  as 
old  Samuel  Adams,  John  Hancock,  John  Adams, 
and  James  Otis  as  their  advisers.  Yes,  Concord 
was  the  centre  of  the  brave  old  Middlesex,  con- 
taining within  it  all  the  early  battlegrounds  of 
liberty, — Old  North  Bridge,  Lexington  Common, 
and  Bunker  Hill,  —  and  was  for  a  time  the  capital 


152  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

of  the  Province,  the  seat  of  the  government  of 
the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

And  Concord  had  within  it  as  true-hearted 
Whig  patriots  as  ever  breathed.  Rev.  Mr.  Emer- 
son was  called  a  "  high  son  of  liberty."  To  con- 
tend with  tyrants,  and  stand  up  against  them, 
resisting  unto  blood,  fighting  for  the  inalienable 
rights  of  the  people,  was  a  part  of  his  holy  reli- 
gion. And  he  was  one  of  the  most  godly  men 
and  eloquent  ministers  in  the  colony.  He  actu- 
ally felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  God  to  quit  that  most 
delightful  town  and  village,  and  the  most  affec- 
tionate church  and  people,  and  enter  the  Con- 
tinental army,  and  serve  them  as  a  chaplain  of  a 
regiment. 

What  a  patient,  noble-hearted,  truthful,  loyal, 
confiding,  affectionate  generation  of  men  they 
were !  And  remember,  these  were  the  men,  ex- 
asperated beyond  all  further  endurance  by  the 
course  of  a  deluded  Parliament  and  besotted  min- 
istry, who  flew  to  arms  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775. 
These  were  the  men  who  then  hunted  up  their 
powder-horns  and  bullet-pouches,  took  down  their 
guns  from  the  hooks,  and  ground  up  their  bay- 
onets, on  that  most  memorable  of  all  days  in  the 
annals  of  the  Old  Thirteen  Colonies,  —  nay,  in  the 
annals  of  the  world, — which  record  the  struggles 
that  noble  men  have  made  in  all  ages  to  be  free  ! 

Yes,  to  my  mind,  Mr.  Speaker,  it  is  a  more 
glorious  day,  a  day  more  full  of  thrilling  incidents 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES    T.    WOODBURY      1 53 

and  great  steps  taken  by  the  people  to  be  free, 
than  even  the  Fourth  of  July  itself,  1776, 

Why,  sir,  the  19th  of  April,  '75,  that  resistance, 
open,  unorganized,  armed,  marshalled  resistance 
at  the  Old  North  Bridge,  that  marching  down  in 
battle  array  at  that  soul-stirring  air  which  every 
soldier  in  this  house  must  remember  to  this  day, 
for  the  tune  is  in  fashion  yet,  —  I  mean  "  The 
White  Cockade,"  —  was  itself  a  prior  declaration  of 
independence,  written  out  not  with  ink  upon  paper 
or  parchment,  but  a  declaration  of  independence 
made  by  drawn  swords,  uplifted  right  arms,  fixed 
bayonets  ground  sharp,  cracking  musketry,  —  a 
declaration  written  out  in  the  best  blood  of  this 
land,  at  Lexington  first,  and  finally  all  the  way 
for  eighteen  miles  from  Old  North  Bridge  to 
Charlestown  Neck,  where  those  panting  fugitives 
found  shelter  under  the  guns  of  British  ships  of 
war,  riding  at  anchor  in  Mystic  River  ready  to 
receive  them  ;  a  declaration  that  put  more  at 
hazard,  and  cost  the  men  who  made  it  more,  after 
all,  of  blood  and  treasure,  than  that  of  1776. 

It  cost  Davis,  Hosmer,  and  Hayward,  and  hun- 
dreds of  others  equally  brave  and  worthy,  their 
hearts'  blood.  It  cost  many  an  aged  father  and 
mother  their  darling  son,  many  a  wife  her  hus- 
band, many  a  Middlesex  maid  her  lover. 

Oh,  what  a  glorious,  but  oh,  what  a  bloody  day 
it  was !  That  was  the  day  which  split  in  twain 
the  British  empire,   never  again  to  be  reunited. 


154  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

What  was  the  battle  of  Waterloo  ?  What  ques- 
tion did  it  settle  ?  Why,  simply  who,  of  several 
kings,  should  wear  the  crown. 

Well,  I  always  thought  ever  since  I  read  it 
when  a  boy,  that  if  I  had  fought  on  either  side  it 
would  have  been  with  Napoleon  against  the  allied 
forces.  But  what  is  the  question  to  me,  or  what 
is  the  question  to  you,  or  to  any  of  us,  or  our 
children  after  us,  if  we  are  to  be  ruled  over  by 
crowned  heads  and  hereditary  monarchs  ?  What 
matters  it  who  they  are,  or  which  one  it  shall  be  .-' 

In  ancient  times  three  hundred  Greeks,  under 
Leonidas,  stood  in  the  pass  of  Thermopylae,  and 
for  three  successive  days  beat  back  and  kept  at 
bay  five  million  Persians,  led  on  by  Xerxes  the 
Great.  It  was  a  gallant  act  ;  but  did  it  preserve 
the  blood-bought  liberties  of  Greece  ?  No.  In 
time  they  were  cloven  down,  and  the  land  of 
Demosthenes  and  Solon  marked  for  ages  by  the 
footsteps  of  the  slaves. 

We  weep  over  it,  but  we  cannot  alter  it.  But 
not  so,  thank  God,  with  "Concord  Fight;"  and  by 
"  Concord  Fight,"  I  say  here,  for  fear  of  being 
misunderstood,  I  mean  by  "  Concord "  all  the 
transactions  of  that  day. 

I  regard  them  as  one  great  drama,  scene  first 
of  which  was  at  Lexington  early  in  the  morning, 
when  old  Mrs.  Harrington  called  up  her  son  Jona- 
than, who  alone,  while  I  speak,  survives  of  all 
that  host  on  cither  side  in  arms   that   day.     He 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY      1 55 

lives,  blessed  be  God,  he  still  lives  !  I  know  him 
well,  a  trembling,  but  still  breathing  memento  of 
the  renowned  past,  yet  lingering  by  mercy  of  God 
on  these  "  mortal  shores,"  if  for  nothing  else,  to 
wake  up  your  sleeping  sympathies,  and  induce 
you,  if  anything  could,  to  aid  in  the  noble  work 
of  building  over  the  bones  of  his  slaughtered 
companions-in-arms,  Davis,  Hosmer,  and  Hay- 
ward,  such  a  monument  as  they  deserve.  Oh,  I 
wish  he  was  here,  I  wish  he  only  stood  on  yonder 
platform,  noble  man  ! 

"  Concord  Fight  "  broke  the  ice.  "  Concord 
Fight,"  the  rush  from  the  heights  at  North 
Bridge,  was  the  first  open,  marshalled  resistance 
to  the  king.  Our  fathers,  cautious  men,  took 
there  a  step  that  they  could  not  take  back  if 
they  would,  and  would  not  if  they  could.  Till 
they  made  that  attack,  probably  no  British  blood 
had  been  shed. 

If  rebels  at  all,  it  was  only  on  paper.  They 
had  not  levied  war.  They  had  not  vi  et  armis 
attacked  their  lawful  king.  But  by  that  act  they 
passed  the  Rubicon.  Till  then  they  might  retreat 
with  honor,  but  after  that  it  was  too  late.  The 
sword  was  drawn,  and  had  been  made  red  in  the 
blood  of  princes,  in  the  person  of  their  armed 
defenders. 

Attacking  Captain  Laurie  and  his  detachment 
at  North  Bridge  was,  in  law,  attacking  King 
George  himself.     Now  they  must  fight  or  be  eter- 


156  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

nally  disgraced.  And  now  they  did  fight  in  good 
earnest.  They  drew  the  sword,  and  threw  away, 
as  well  as  they  might,  the  scabbard.  Yester- 
day they  humbly  petitioned.  They  petitioned  no 
longer.  Oh,  what  change  from  the  19th  to  the 
20th  of  April ! 

They  had  been,  up  to  that  day,  a  grave,  Gcrd- 
fearing,  loyal  set  of  men,  honoring  the  king. 
Now  they  strike  for  national  independence  ;  and 
after  seven  years  of  war,  by  the  help  of  God,  they 
won  it.  They  obtained  nationality.  It  that  day 
breathed  into  life  ;  the  Colony  gave  way  to  the 
State  ;  that  morning  Davis  and  all  of  them  were 
British  colonists.  They  became  by  that  day's  re- 
sistance, either  rebels  doomed  to  die  by  the  halter, 
or  free,  independent  citizens.  If  the  old  pine-tree 
flag  still  waved  over  them  unchanged,  they  them- 
selves were  changed  entirely  and  forever. 

Old  Middlesex  was  allowed  the  privilege  of 
opening  the  war,  of  first  baptizing  the  land  with 
her  blood.  God  did  well  to  select  old  Middlesex, 
and  the  loved  and  revered  centre  of  old  Middle- 
sex, namely.  Concord,  as  the  spot,  not  where  this 
achievement  was  to  be  completed,  but  where  it 
was  to  be  begun,  and  well  begun  ;  where  the 
troops  of  crowned  kings  were  to  meet,  not  the 
troops  of  the  people,  but  the  people  themselves, 
and  be  routed  and  beaten  from  the  field,  and  what 
is  mgre,  stay  beaten,  we  hope,  we  doubt  not,  to 
the  end  of  time. 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY      1 57 

And  let  us  remember  that  our  fathers,  from  the 
first  to  the  last  in  that  eventful  struggle,  made 
most  devout  appeals  to  Almighty  God.  It  was 
so  with  the  whole  Revolutionary  War.  It  was  all 
begun,  continued,  and  ended  in  God.  Every  man 
and  every  boy  that  went  from  the  little  mountain 
town  of  Acton,  with  its  five  hundred  souls,  went 
that  morning  from  a  house  of  prayer.  A  more 
prayerful,  pious,  God-fearing,  man-loving  people, 
I  have  never  read  or  heard  of.  If  you  have, 
sir,  I  should  like  to  know  who  they  are,  and  where 
they  live.  They  were  Puritans,  Plymouth  Rock 
Puritans,  men  who  would  petition  and  petition 
and  petition,  most  respectfully  and  most  courte- 
ously, and  when  their  petition  and  petitioners,  old 
Ben  Franklin  and  the  rest,  were  proudly  spurned 
away  from  the  foot  of  the  throne,  petition  again  ; 
and  do  it  again  for  more  than  ten  long,  tedious 
years.  But  after  all  they  would  fight,  and  fight 
as  never  man  fought ;  and  they  did  fight. 

When  such  men  take  up  arms,  let  kings  and 
queens  take  care  of  themselves.  When  you  have 
waked  up  such  men  to  resistance  unto  blood,  you 
have  waked  up  a  lion  in  his  den.  You  may  kill 
them,  — they  are  vulnerable  besides  on  the  heel, 
—  but  my  word  for  it,  you  never  can  conquer 
them. 

At  Old  North  Bridge,  about  nine  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon,  on  the  memorable  19th  of  April,  1775, 
King  George's  troops  met  these  men,  and,  after 


158  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

receiving- their  first  fire,  fled.  And  the  flight  still 
continues,  —  the  flight  of  kings  before  the  people. 

Davis's  minute-men  were  ready  first,  and  were 
on  the  ground  first.  They  were  an  ilite  corps, 
young  men,  volunteers  ;  and  give  me  young  men 
for  war.  They  were  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
warning.  They  were  soon  at  Davis's  house  and 
gun-shop,  and  they  waited  here  till  about  fifty  had 
arrived.  While  there  some  of  them  were  pow- 
dering their  hair,  just  as  the  Greeks  were  accus- 
tomed to  put  garlands  of  flowers  on  their  heads 
as  they  went  forth  to  battle;  and  they  expected 
a  battle.  They  were  fixing  their  gun-locks,  and 
making  a  few  cartridges  ;  but  cartridges  and  car- 
tridge-boxes were  rare  in  those  days.  The  accou- 
trements of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolution  were 
the  powder-horn  and  the  bullet-pouch,  at  least  of 
the  militia. 

And  Concord  Fight,  with  all  its  unequalled  and 
uneclipsed  glory,  was  won,  by  the  help  of  God, 
by  Massachusetts  militiamen.  Some  were  laugh- 
ing and  joking  to  think  that  they  were  going  to 
have  what  they  had  for  months  longed  for,  — 
a  "hit  at  old  Gage."  But  Davis  was  a  thought- 
ful, sedate,  serious  man,  a  genuine  Puritan,  like 
Samuel  Adams  ;  and  he  rebuked  them.  He  told 
them  that  in  his  opinion  it  was  "  a  most  eventful 
crisis  for  the  colonies  ;  blood  would  be  spilt,  that 
was  certain.  The  crimsoned  fountain  would  be 
opened  ;  none  could  tell  when  it  would  close,  nor 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY      1 59 

with  whose  blood  it  would  flow.  Let  every  man 
gird  hiinself  for  battle,  and  not  be  afraid,  for  God 
is  on  our  side.  He  had  great  hope  that  the  coun- 
try would  be  free,  though  he  might  not  live  to  see 
it."  The  truth  was,  and  it  should  come  out, 
Davis  expected  to  die  that  day  if  he  went  into 
battle.  He  never  expected  to  come  back  alive 
to  that  house. 

And  no  wonder  that  after  the  company  started, 
and  had  marched  out  of  his  lane  some  twenty 
rods  to  the  highway,  he  halted  them,  and  went 
back.  He  was  an  affectionate  man.  He  loved 
that  youthful  wife  of  his,  and  those  four  sick  chil- 
dren, and  he  thought  to  see  them  never  again  ; 
and  he  never  did.  There  was  such  a  presenti- 
ment in  his  mind.  His  widow  has  often  told  me 
all  about  it  ;  and  she  thought  the  same  herself. 
And  no  wonder  he  went  back,  and  took  one  more 
last,  lingering  look  of  them,  saying  —  he  seemed 
to  want  to  say  something;  but  as  he  stood  on  that 
threshold  where  I  have  often  stood,  and  where, 
in  my  mind's  eye,  I  have  often  seen  his  manly 
form,  he  could  only  say,  "  Take  good  care  of  the 
children;"  the  feelings  of  the  father  struggling 
in  him  and  for  a  moment  almost  overcoming  the 
soldier.  The  ground  of  this  presentiment  was 
this.  A  few  days  before  the  fight,  Mr.  Davis  and 
wife  had  been  away  from  home  of  an  afternoon. 
On  returning  they  noticed,  as  they  entered,  a 
large  owl  sitting  on  Davis's  gun  as  it  hung  on  the 


l6o  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

hooks,  —  his  favorite  gun,  the  very  gun  he  carried 
to  the  fight,  a  beautiful  piece  for  those  days,  his 
own  workmanship,  the  same  he  grasped  in  both 
hands  when  he  was  shot  at  the  bridge,  being  just 
about  to  fire  himself,  and  which,  when  stone 
dead,  he  grasped  still,  his  friends  having,  to  get  it 
away,  to  unclinch  his  stiff  fingers. 

Sir,  however  you  may  view  this  occurrence,  or 
however  I  may,  it  matters  not.  I  am  telling  how 
that  brave  man  viewed  it,  and  his  wife,  and  the 
men  of  those  times.  It  was  an  ill  omen,  a  bad 
sign.  The  sober  conclusion  was,  that  the  first 
time  Davis  went  into  battle  he  would  lose  his  life. 
This  was  the  conclusion,  and  so  it  turned  out. 
The  family  could  give  no  account  of  the  creature, 
and  they  knew  not  how  it  came  in.  The  , hideous 
bird  was  not  allowed  to  be  disturbed  or  frightened 
away ;  and  there  he  stayed  two  or  three  days,  sit- 
ing upon  the  gun. 

But  mark,  with  this  distinct  impression  on  his 
mind,  did  the  heart  of  that  Puritan  patriarch 
quail }  No  ;  not  at  all,  not  at  all.  He  believed 
in  the  Puritan's  God,  —  the  Infinite  Spirit  sitting 
on  the  throne  of  the  universe.  Proprietor  of  all. 
Creator  and  Upholder  of  all,  superintending  and 
disposing  of  all,  that  the  hairs  of  his  head  were 
all  numbered,  and  not  even  a  sparrow  could  fall 
to  the  ground  without  his  God's  express  notice, 
knowledge,  and  consent.  He  took  that  gun  from 
those  hooks  with  no  trembling  hand  or  wavering 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES    T.    WOODBURY      l6l 

heart ;  and  with  his  trusty  sword  hanging  by  his 
side,  he  started  for  North  Bridge  with  the  firm 
tread  of  a  giant.  Death  !  Davis  did  not  fear  to 
die.  And  he  had  the  magic  power,  which  some 
men  certainly  have,  —  God  bestows  it  upon  them, 
—  to  inspire  everyone  around  them  with  the  same 
feehng.  His  soldiers  to  a  man  would  have  gone 
anywhere  after  such  a  leader.  After  about  two 
miles  of  hurried  march,  they  came  out  of  the 
woods  only  a  few  rods  from  Colonel  James  Bar- 
rett's, in  Concord,  and  halted  in  the  highway, 
whether  discovered  or  not  (this  road  came  into 
the  road  by  Barrett's,  some  twenty  rods  from  Bar- 
rett's house),  looking  with  burning  indignation  to 
see  Captain  Parsons  and  his  detachment  of  British 
troops  with  axes  break  up  the  gun-carriages,  and 
bring  out  hay  and  wood,  and  burn  them  in  the 
yard. 

They  had  great  thoughts  of  firing  in  upon  them 
then  and  there  to  venture.  But  Davis  was  a  mil- 
itary man ;  and  his  orders  were  to  rendezvous  at 
North  Bridge,  and  he  knew  very  well  that  taking 
possession  of  North  Bridge  would  cut  off  all  re- 
treat for  this  detachment  of  horse,  and  they  must 
be  taken  prisoners. 

In  a  few  minutes  more  he  wheeled  his  company 
into  line  on  the  high  lands  of  North  Bridge,  tak- 
ing the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  —  that  line  being 
formed  facing  the  river,  which  was  his  place,  as 
the  youngest  commissioned  officer  present  in  the 


1 62   ,  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

regiment,  —  a  place  occupied  a  few  days  before 
by  him  at  a  regimental  muster  of  the  minute-men. 

A  council  of  war  was  immediately  summoned  by 
Colonel  James  Barrett,  and  attended  on  the  spot, 
made  up  of  commissioned  officers  and  Commit- 
tees of  Safety.  The  question  was.  What  shall 
now  be  done  t  The  Provincials  had  been  talking 
for  months  —  nay,  for  years  —  of  the  wrongs  they 
had  borne  at  the  hands  of  a  cruel  motherland. 
They  had  passed  good  paper  resolutions  by  the 
dozens.  They  had  fired  off  their  paper  bullets  ; 
but  what  shall  now  be  done?  Enough  had  been 
said.  What  shall  now  be  done  .-'  What  a  mo- 
ment !  What  a  crisis  for  the  destinies  of  this 
land  and  of  all  lands,  of  the  rights  and  liberties 
of  the  human  race  !  Never  was  a  council  of  war 
or  council  of  peace  called  to  meet  a  more  im- 
portant question,  one  on  the  decision  of  which 
more  was  at  stake.  Their  council  was  divided. 
Some  thought  it  best  at  once  to  rush  down  and 
take  possession  of  the  bridge,  and  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  Captain  Parsons  ;  others  thought  not. 

Here  were  probably  found  in  battle  array  over . 
six  hundred  troops,  standing  there  under  arms. 
Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Pitcairn  were  in  plain 
sight,  with  their  red  coats  on,  their  cocked-up  hats 
and  their  spyglasses,  inspecting  from  the  old 
graveyard  hills  the  gathering  foe  ;  for  they  came 
in  from  all  directions,  suddenly,  unaccountably, 
like   the   gathering  of    a  summer  thunder-cloud. 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY      1 63 

Of  course  it  was  admitted  on  all  hands  that  they 
could  take  possession  of  the  bridge,  but  it  was 
to  be  expected  that  this  skirmish  must  bring  on  a 
general  engagement  with  the  main  body  in  the 
town.  The  Provincials  would  be  in  greater  force 
by  twelve  o'clock  m.  than  at  nine.  And  if  the 
whole  British  army  of  eight  hundred  men  should 
take  the  field  against  them  in  their  present  num- 
ber, most  undoubtedly  the  men  would  run,  —  they 
never  would  "  stand  fire."  Their  officers  thought 
so  ;  their  officers  said  so  on  the  spot.  They  gave 
it  as  their  opinion,  and  it  is  probable  that  no 
attack  at  that  hour  would  have  been  made  had 
it  not  happened  that,  at  that  moment,  the  smoke 
began  to  rise  from  the  centre  of  the  town,  — 
all  in  plain  sight  from  these  heights,  —  the  smoke 
of  burning  houses.  And  they  said.  Shall  we 
stand  here  like  cowards,  and  see  Old  Concord 
burn  } 

Colonel  Barrett  gave  consent  to  make  the  at- 
tack. Davis  came  back  to  his  company,  drew 
his  sword,  and  commanded  them  to  advance  six 
paces.  He  then  faced  them  to  the  right,  and  at 
his  favorite  tune  of  "  The  White  Cockade "  led 
the  column  of  attack  towards  the  bridge.  By  the 
side  of  Davis  marched  Major  Buttrick  of  Concord, 
as  brave  a  man  as  lived,  and  old  Colonel  Robin- 
son of  Westford.  The  British  on  this  began  to 
take  up  the  bridge  ;  the  Americans  on  this  quick- 
ened their  pace.     Immediately  the  firing  on  both 


164  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

sides  began.  Davis  is  at  once  shot  dead,  through 
the  heart.  The  ball  passed  quite  through  his 
body,  making  a  very  large  wound,  perhaps  driving 
in  a  button  of  his  coat. 

His  blood  gushed  out  in  one  great  stream,  fly- 
ing, it  is  said,  more  than  ten  feet,  besprinkling 
and  besmearing  his  own  clothes,  these  shoe- 
buckles,  and  the  clothes  of  Orderly  Sergeant 
David  Forbush,  and  a  file  leader,  Thomas  Thorp. 
Davis  when  hit,  as  is  usual  with  men  when  shot 
thus  through  the  'heart,  leaped  up  his  full  length 
and  fell  over  the  causeway  on  the  wet  ground,  firmly 
grasping  all  the  while,  with  both  hands,  that  beau- 
tiful gun ;  and  when  his  weeping  comrades  came 
to  take  care  of  his  youthful  but  bloody  remains, 
they  with  difficulty  unclutched  those  hands  now 
cold  and  stiff  in  death.  He  was  just  elevating  to 
his  sure  eye  this  gun.  No  man  was  a  surer  shot. 
What  a  baptism  of  blood  did  those  soldiers  then 
receive !  The  question  is  now.  Do  these  men 
deserve  this  monument,  —  one  that  shall  speak  } 

Davis's  case  is  without  a  parallel,  and  was  so 
considered  by  the  Legislature  and  by  Congress 
when  they  granted  aid  to  his  widow.  There 
never  can  be  another. 

There  never  can  be  but  one  man  who  headed 
the  first  column  of  attack  on  the  king's  troops  in 
the  Revolutionary.  War.  And  Isaac  Davis  was 
that  man.  Others  fell,  but  not  exactly  as  he  fell. 
Give   them  the  marble.     Vote  them    the   monu- 


SPEECH  OF  REV.  JAMES   T.    WOODBURY      1 65 

ment,  one  that  shall  speak  to  all  future  genera- 
tions, and  speak  to  the  terror  of  kings  and  to  the 
encouragement  of  all  who  will  be  free,  and  who, 
when  the  bloody  crisis  comes  to  strike  for  it, 
"are  not  afraid  to  so." 


A^  if/ 'iff 


Acton  Monument 


At  the  base  of  the  Acton  monument  may  be 
seen  the  rude  gravestones  that  stood  in  the  an- 
cient burial-ground  seventy-five  years  before  their 
removal  to  their  present  location. 

Their    quaint    epitaphs,    chiselled    before    the 


l66  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

result  of  the  sacrifice  was  realized,  are  of  inter- 
est, in  that  they  tell  the  story  before  time  had 
afforded  an  opportunity  to  arouse  the  sentiment 
of  later  days. 


I  SAY  UNTO  ALL 

WACH. 


IN  MEMORY   OF   CAPT.    ISAAC    DAVIS 

WHO   WAS   SLAIN   IN   BATTLE   AT 

CONCORD   APRIL   YE    I9TH    1 775    IN 

THE   DEFENCE   OF   YE  JUST   RIGHTS 

AND   LIBERTRIES   OF   HIS   COUNTRY 

CIVIL  &   RELIGIOUS.      HE   WAS   A    LOVNG 

HUSBAND   A   TENDER   FATHER   &   A 

KIND   NEIGHBOUR   AN   INGENEOUS 

CRAFTSMAN   &   SERVICEABLE   TO 

MANKIND   DIED   IN   YE   PRIME   OF 

LIFE   AGED   30   YEARS    I    M.,    &   25    DAYS. 

Is  there  not  an  appointed  time  to  man  upon  ye  earth  ?  are  not 
his  days  also  like  the  days  of  an  hireling?  As  the  cloud  is  con- 
sumed and  vanisheth  a7vay,  so  he  that goeth  down  to  the  grave  shall 
come  up  no  more.  He  shall  return  no  more  to  his  house,  neither 
shall  his  place  know  him  any  more.  — Job  vii.  i,  9,  10. 

"MEMENTO  MORI." 

HERE   LIES   THE   BODY   OF   MR.    ABNER    HOSMER, 

SON  OF   DEA.  JONA.    HOSMER,  AND   MRS.    MARTHA   HIS  WIFE, 

WHO   WAS   KILLED   IN   CONCORD   FIGHT 

APRIL    I9TH,    1775, 

IN   YE   DEFENCE   OF   YE   JUST   RIGHTS   OF   HIS   COUNTRY, 

BEING  IN  THE  2 1  ST  YEAR  OF  HIS  AGE. 


EAGLE   OF  CONCORD  FIGHT  1 6/ 

IN  MEMORY   OF  MR.   JAMES   HAYWARD, 

SON  OF  CAPT.   SAMUEL  AND  MRS.    MARY    HAYWARD, 

WHO  WAS   KILLED   IN   CONCORD  FIGHT, 

APRIL  I9TH,    1775, 

AGED  25   YEARS  AND  FOUR   DAYS. 

This  monument  may  unborn  ages  tell 

How  brave  Young  Hayward,  like  a  hero  fell. 

When  fighting  for  his  countrie's  liberty 

Was  slain,  and  here  his  body  now  doth  lye. 
He  and  his  foe  were  by  each  other  slain, 
His  victim's  blood  with  his  ye  earth  did  stain  ; 

Upon  ye  field  he  7vas  with  victory  crowned. 
And  yet  must  yield  his  breath  upon  that  ground. 
He  express' t  his  hope  in  God  before  his  death. 
After  his  foe  had  yielded  up  his  breath. 

O  may  his  death  a  lasting  witness  lye. 
Against  Oppressors'  bloody  cruelty. 


EAGLE    OF    CONCORD    FIGHT. 

A  most  interesting  relic  of  the  Civil  War  is 
the  eagle  "  Old  Abe,"  that  is  now  in  the  State 
House  at  Madison,  Wis.  But  the  eagle  of  Con- 
cord Fight  is  equally  valuable  as  a  relic ;  and  the 
circumstances  attending  its  presence  at  Old  North 
Bridge,  and  preservation  for  one  hundred  and 
twenty  years,  are  more  fascinating  than  any  told 
by  the  Greeks  of  the  phoenix,  the  bird  of  fable 
that  rose  from  its  own  ashes. 

The  eagle  went  to  Concord  on  the  morning  of 
April  19,  1775,  with  the  Acton  men,  and  was  in 
the  form  of  a  bosom-pin  represented  above. 


1 68  BENEATH  OLD  ROOE   TREES 

It  may  seem  almost  fabulous  that  the  soldiers 
of  that  day  went  forth  to  battle  decked  in  jewels. 
But  we  must  remember  that  it  was  the  citizens 
who  responded  to  the  alarm,  going  forth  to  battle 
as  citizens. 

We  have  unmistakable  evidence  that  not  only 
the  Provincials,  but  also  the  regulars,  wore  such 


Eagle  of  Concoru  Fight 

ornaments  into  the  battle   of   one    hundred   and 
twenty  years  ago. 

Living  in  the  enjoyment  of  luxury,  as  many 
of  the  British  army  were  at  that  time  in  Boston, 
and  at  first  regarding  the  movements  out  of  town 
on  the  night  of  April  i8  as  a  holiday  excursion,  it 
was  not  strange  that  they  wore  gold  watches  and 
bosom-pins,  and  had  an  abundance  of  coin  in  their 
pockets. 


EAGLE   OF  CONCORD  FIGHT  1 69 

A  ring  is  still  treasured  by  the  descendants  of 
the  Provincial  who  gave  relief  to  a  British  soldier 
when  on  his  retreat  from  Concord.  It  was  given 
by  the  wounded  enemy  to  the  one  who  assisted 
him,  not  because  of  Tory  sentiments,  but  from  a 
feeling  of  humanity. 

The  cues  of  the  British  officers  who  fell  in 
Lincoln,  and  were  there  buried  in  a  common  grave, 
were  tied  up  with  broad  ribbons.  Rev.  Mr.  Wood- 
bury has  already  told  us  that  some  of  Captain 
Isaac  Davis's  men  spent  the'  time,  while  waiting 
for  others  to  assemble,  in  powdering  their  hair, 
and  fixing  themselves  for  a  fine  appearance. 

How  that  may  have  been  we  cannot  prove  now. 
But  certain  is  it  that  Abncr  Hosmer  wore  in 
battle  a  silver  pin  representing  the  eagle.  This 
was  not  taken  from  his  body,  but  was  buried  with 
him.  The  reason  of  this  may  probably  be  as- 
signed to  some  superstition  that  was  entertained 
by  the  sorrowing  family. 

After  seventy-five  years,  the  remains  of  Davis, 
Hosmer,  and  Hayward  were  disinterred,  and 
placed  beneath  the  monument  on  Acton  Com- 
mon. When  the  grave  of  Hosmer  was  opened, 
this  bosom-pin  was  discovered,  and  taken  by  one 
of  his  family  connections,  and  when  scoured  re- 
vealed the  familiar  initials. 

It  seems  a  most  remarkable  fact  that  after 
three-quarters  of  a  century  there  should  come 
evidence  from  the   crrave   that  the  bird  selected 


170  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

as  our  national  emblem  was  then  present  at  the 
opening  scene  of  that  war  which  gave  us  a  nation. 

From  this  it  is  natural  to  conclude  that  the 
eagle  was  not  adopted  for  our  national  emblem 
in  1785  so  much  because  of  its  nativity  here,  as 
because  of  its  having  been  used  from  the  very 
early  times  on  heraldic  devices.  It  was  accounted 
one  of  the  most  noble  bearings  in  heraldry. 

How  long  this  silver  eagle  had  been  in  the 
Hosmer  family  cannot  be  determined  ;  but  it  is 
supposed  that  it  was  given  by  the  father,  Jona- 
than Hosmer,  to  his  much-loved  son  on  his 
twenty-first  birthday. 

Abner  was  one  of  three  sons  of  his  family  who 
were  in  the  war.  The  second  gave  up  his  life  at 
Bennington. 

The  father,  a  deacon  in  the  Acton  church,  was 
a  third  member  of  the  family  to  die  for  his  coun- 
try. Too  aged  and  feeble  to  go  to  Concord,  when 
the  news  of  the  battle  reached  Acton,  this  man 
went  out  a  short  distance  to  learn  the  particu- 
lars. There  he  heard  that  his  son  Abner  was 
one  who  had  fallen  at  the  bridge.  He  returned, 
and  entering  his  house  uttered  groans  of  lamenta- 
tion in  substance  like  those  of  David  of  old.  O 
my  son  Abner,  my  son  !  my  son  Abner !  would  God 
I  had  died  for  thee,  O  Abner,  my  son,  my  son ! 


r 

1 

FOOTPRINTS  OF  PATRIOTS  AT  BEDFORD      171 


CHAPTER    XV 

FOOTPRINTS  OF  THE  PATRIOTS  AT  BEDFORD.  — 
THROUGH  THE  OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BED- 
FORD   WITH    A    NONAGENARIAN 

On  the  opposite  side  of  Concord  is  the  town  of 
Bedford,  in  an  interesting  manner  bearing  the 
same  relations  to  it  as  does  the  town  of  Acton. 
They  were  originally  parts  of  Concord,  and  there 
were  many  ties  that  bound  them  together  at  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  Their  families  were  con- 
nected by  marriage,  and  they  were  very  jealous 
of  the  honor  of  the  mother  town.  It  required 
but  the  slightest  warning  to  arouse  them. 

The  alarm  at  Bedford  was  received  probably  be- 
fore it  reached  Concord.  Two  messengers  were 
despatched  at  once  from  Lexington  to  notify  the 
Bedford  people. 

The  town  contains  several  homesteads  that  are 
identified  with  the  early  events  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Homes  through  which  sounded  the  alarm- 
ing cry,  "  To  arms  !  the  redcoats  are  coming  !  " 
still  echo  the  voices  of  the  same  families.  Sit- 
ting by  the  same  fireside,  the  occupants  cherish 
the  firearms,  and  tell  the  story  as  they  have  heard 
it  from  their  grandsires  who  faced  the  enemy. 


1/2  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

Prominent  among  these  historic  dwellings  is 
that  of  the  Page  family.  Seven  generations  of 
patriots  of  this  name  have  possessed  and  occupied 
this  estate. 

The  spirit  of  patriotism  was  cradled  in  this 
home  as  in  but  few  others. 

While  sitting  as  a  guest  about  the  family- 
hearthstone,  I  received  from  Captain  Cyrus  Page 
of  the  sixth  generation  much  of  the  information 
which  follows.  For  two  hundred  and  eight  years 
the  family  have  been  in  possession.  About  ten 
years  after  the  landing  of  Governor  John  Win- 
throp,  a  large  tract  of  unexplored  territory  was 
granted  to  Cambridge  to  encourage  those  settlers, 
and  prevent  their  removal,  following  Mr.  Hooker 
and  his  company  to  Connecticut.  The  church 
stood  first  in  importance;  and  the  benefit  of  this 
grant  was  to  go  to  the  church,  and  college  so  inti- 
mately associated  with  it,  at  Cambridge.  In  1652 
the  grant  was  allotted  to  the  settlers.  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Oakes  received  three  hundred  acres.  This 
he  sold  to  George  Farley  and  others.  Farley 
sold  to  Timothy  Brooks. 

It  was  during  Brooks's  possession  and  occu- 
pancy as  a  residence  that  the  first  military  tinge 
is  given  to  the  homestead.  At  the  opening  of 
King  Philip's  war,  the  owner  was  directed  to  secure 
his  family  at  Garrison  "  No.  10,"  that  was  near  by. 
Brooks  sold  to  George  Grimes,  of  whom  the  estate 
was  purchased  in  1687  by  Nathaniel  Page. 


FOOrPKINTS  OF  PATRIOTS  AT  BEDFORD      1 73 


It  did  not  require  the  presence  of  a  garrison 
house  to  arouse  the  military  spirit  of  this  first 
Page  settler  in  the  territory  about  Shawsheen, 
which  later  fell  to  Bedford  in  the  incorporation  of 
1729.  He  had  already  been  active  in  the  "Three 
County  Troop,"  ^  and  he  had  been  commissioned 
by  Governor  Dudley  as  sheriff  of  Suffolk  County. 
The  military  spirit 
was  fostered  in  this 
home,  and  trans- 
mitted from  father 
to  son,  becoming 
manifest  in  a  read- 
iness to  take  up 
arms  for  the  pro- 
tection of  home 
and  country  dur- 
ing the  wars  that 
succeeded  King 
Philip's,  before  the 
Revolution.  Na- 
thaniel Page  1st 
died  in  1692,  when  the  town  was  suffering  from  the 
desolating  assaults  of  King  William's  war.  Sons 
and  grandsons  there  were  to  perpetuate  the  family 
name  and  patriotism.  One  of  them  was  a  colonel 
in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and  several  were 
in  the  ranks. 

The  midnight   alarm  of   April    i8th  was    first 
^  See  flag  of  minute-men  in  this  volume. 


Cyrus  Pace 


174 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


received  at  this  house.  It  met  with  a  ready  re- 
sponse from  Christopher,  the  sergeant  of  the 
minute-men,  and  Nathaniel,  the  cornet,  or  flag- 
bearer.  Two  others  also  responded.  They  be- 
longed to  the  company  of  militia,  and  all  were  at 
Concord  Fight. 

Says  Captain   Cyrus   Page,   "  Our  people  were 
not   surprised  when  the  messenger  reached  this 


Fitch  Tavern 


house.  They  had  seen  Gage's  men  several  times 
riding  about  the  town,  and  were  kept  familiar 
with  the  movements  in  Boston.  The  frequent 
drillings  of  the  minute-men  were  good  opportu- 
nities for  exchanging  ideas,  and  there  was  no 
home  that  was  not  in  a  state  of  expectancy.  My 
grandfather's  account  was  :  *  We  had  agreed  at 
the  last  drilling  to  meet,  in  case  of  alarm,  at 
the  tavern   in  the  centre  of  the  town,  kept   by 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  PATRIOTS  AT  BEDFORD      1 75 

Jeremiah  Fitch,  sergeant  of  the  militia  company. 
The  horseman  banged  on  the  house  and  cried 
out,  "  Up,  Mr.  Page,  the  regulars  are  out."  We 
were  not  long  in  our  preparations,  and  were  soon 
at  the  tavern,  where  some  had  already  gath- 
ered, and  others  soon  appeared.  Our  captain 
lived  fully  two  miles  away  from  the  village,  but 
he  was  on  hand. 

" '  Captain  Willson  had  received  a  report  from 
Boston  on  the  previous  afternoon  ;  it  was  brought 
by  his  brother-in-law,Thompson  Maxwell,  a  native 
of  Bedford,  but  then  a  resident  of  Amherst,  N.H. 
He  made  trips  between  Amherst  and  Boston  for 
the  conveyance  of  merchandise,  and  stopped  at 
Willson's  when  on  the  journey.  Maxwell  had 
served  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and  was 
well  known  by  leading  men  of  Boston  as  a  trust- 
worthy patriot.  One  of  his  trips  was  made  in 
the  month  of  December,  1773.  After  unloading 
his  freight,  he  went  to  John  Hancock's  warehouse 
to  load  for  his  return  trip.  While  there,  Han- 
cock asked  him  to  drive  the  team  to  his  stable, 
where  it  would  receive  care,  and  then  call  at  his 
counting-room.  He  did  so,  and  was  there  let  into 
the  secret  of  destroying  the  tea,  and  was  invited 
to  join  the  enterprise.  He  did  so,  assisted  in  the 
midnight  business,  and  the  next  day  drove  home 
as  "  any  honest  man  would." 

"'He  was  on  another  trip  in  April,  1775,  and 
on  his  way  home  had  stopped  at  Willson's.     They 


176  BENEATH  OLD  KOOF  TREES 

sat  up  unusually  late,  discussing  the  condition  of 
things.  Maxwell  had  detected  some  unusual 
movements  that  day  which  led  them  to  be  more 
anxious  about  the  future.  They  retired  at  a  late 
hour,  and  were  scarcely  asleep  when  the  alarm 
reached  the  Captain's  home. 

" '  Maxwell  accepted  an  invitation  from  his 
brother-in-law,  and  they  both  made  haste  to  the 
village.  Our  company  of  minute-men,  numbering 
twenty-six,  were  all  assembled.  Many  had  left 
their  homes  without  any  food,  and  refreshment 
was  served  at  the  tavern  in  a  most  informal  man- 
ner. This  done.  Captain  Willson  gave  his  order: 
"  Come  on,  my  brave  boys ;  this  is  a  cold  break- 
fast, but  we'll  give  the  redcoats  a  hot  dinner. 
We'll  have  every  dog  of  them  before  night."  On 
we  went,  little  realizing  what  was  before  us.  The 
town's  company  of  militiamen,  fifty  strong,  was 
also  on  the  way.  They  had  met  at  the  home  of 
their  captain,  John  Moore,  a  half  mile  out  from 
the  village  on  the  Concord  road. 

"  *  Circumstances  favored  an  early  response 
from  the  Bedford  men  ;  and  we  should  have  been 
remiss  in  our  military  obligations,  and  unmindful 
of  our  filial  relations,  if  we  had  not  reached  Con- 
cord among  the  first  companies,  which  we  did. 
We  assisted  in  secreting  the  stores,  and  were 
anxiously  awaiting  reports,  when  we  saw  the  army 
approaching.  That  was  a  sight  never  to  be  for- 
gotten, those  brilliantly  attired  soldiers,  moving 


FOOTPRINTS   OF  PATRIOTS  AT  BEDFORD      Ijy 

in  perfect  martial  order,  in  solid  phalanx,  with 
their  bayonets  glistening  in  the  morning  sun. 
We  went  on  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
and  there  fell  in,  according  to  the  orders  of  Col- 
onel Barrett,  and  marched  down  to  the  bridge. 
We  had  a  share  in  the  engagement  which  imme- 
diately followed,  but  fortunately  received  no  injury. 
Whether  we  did  any,  or  not,  is  a  question  that  we 
could  not  positively  answer.  In  our  pursuit  of 
the  retreating  enemy  we  were  not  so  fortunate. 
When  near  Brooks's  tavern,  just  across  the  line  in 
Lincoln,  there  was  a  severe  engagement,  and  our 
brave  Captain  was  killed,  shot  through  his  body. 
A  comrade.  Job  Lane,  was  severely  wounded. 
Some  of  us  returned  home  bearing  the  dead  and 
wounded,  while  the  majority  continued  in  the  pur- 
suit, going  into  camp  at  Cambridge.  The  place  of 
the  dead  Captain  was  filled  by  Lieutenant  Edward 
Stearns.  Those  who  went  home  soon  started  with 
the  loads  of  provisions  which  had  been  prepared 
during  the  day,  and  reached  their  tired  and  almost 
famished  companies  where  they  had  lain  down  for 
rest. 

"  *  Being  so  near  home,  we  were  continually  in 
receipt  of  provisions,  and  fared  better  than  many 
who  were  in  camp  during  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Artemas  Ward  ;  but  two  of  our  young  men, 
Solomon  Stearns  and  Reuben  Bacon,  died,  as  a 
result  of  the  fatigue  of  the  19th,  and  the  expo- 
sure that  followed.     Theirs  was  the  fate  of  a  good 


1/8  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

many  whose  homes  were  farther  away  from  the 
seat  of  war.  Timothy  Page  remained  in  contin- 
uous service  until  the  battle  of  White  Plains, 
where  he  was  killed.  A  comrade,  Moses  Fitch, 
was  wounded  at  the  same  time." 

This  story  of  Nathaniel  Page,  repeated  by  his 
grandson  at  the  old  home,  is  only  one  of  many 
from  the  same  source,  all  of  which  are  substanti- 
ated by  indisputable  evidence. 

Says  Captain  Page,  "There  is  another  home  on 
the  Concord  side  of  this  town  where  the  foot- 
prints of  the  patriots  are  as  plainly  to  be  traced 
as  they  are  at  my  ancestral  dwelling."  This  is 
the  Davis  estate.  It  has  been  in  the  family 
almost  two  centuries.  It  was  purchased  by  Sam- 
uel Davis  in  1696.  The  conveyance  being  "In 
the  eighth  year  of  the  Raine  of  our  Souvereign 
Lord  William  the  third,  by  the  Grace  of  God, 
over  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King  and  defender  of  the  faith."  The  homestead 
has  passed  through  six  generations,  in  each  of 
which  has  been  found  the  name  of  Eleazer.  The 
military  spirit  was  early  kindled  at  that  hearth- 
stone. Three  of  the  family  went  from  this  home- 
stead with  Lovewell,  in  his  famous  expedition  of 
1724-5  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  to  the  wilderness 
of  Maine  ;  one,  Josiah,  lost  his  life,  and  Eleazer 
was  maimed  for  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Two 
were  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  where  Paul 
lost  his  life  in  1763, 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  PATRIOTS  AT  BEDFORD      1 79 

At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  Eleazer  was 
second  lieutenant  of  the  minute-men,  and  soon 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant.  His  commission, 
still  kept,  is  evidence  of  his  honorable  career  on 
April  19.  He  was  in  service  with  the  company, 
and  his  sword  has  been  faithfully  kept  in  the 
house  to  which  it  was  brought  after  that  day's 
experience.  His  musket,  used  in  the  Continental 
army,  is  also  treasured.  Both  being  most  tangi- 
ble evidence  of  the  patriotism  which  moved  the 
hearts  of  the  occupant  of  this  home  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Revolution,  and  where  rare  specimens 
of  good  citizenship  have  been  found  in  each  suc- 
ceeding generation. 

When  at  Lexington  we  were  tracing  the  foot- 
prints of  the  illustrious  patriots,  guests  at  the 
parsonage,  we  made  the  acquaintance  of  Madam 
Clark,  wife  of  the  minister.  In  our  circuitous 
course  we  have  now  come  to  the  Bedford  par- 
sonage, of  an  earlier  date,  from  which  the  min- 
ister's daughter  went  to  become  a  minister's 
wife,  and  as  such  the  entertainer  of  Hancock 
and  Adams. 

Although  no  longer  a  parsonage,  this,  the  most 
notable  house  of  the  town  of  that  time,  was  a 
centre  of  patriotic  influence. 

The  owner  of  to-day  proudly  opens  the  door, 
and  bids  a  cheerful  welcome  to  the  guest,  who  is 
shown  the  room  in  which  the  town's  Committee 
of  Correspondence  and  Supplies  held  their  numer- 


l8o  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

ous  meetings.  From  this  house  went  John  Reed, 
the  town's  representative  to  the  first  two  Provin- 
cial Congresses,  and  to  numerous  conventions 
where  men  of  judgment,  inspired  by  patriotism, 
were  wont  to  meet  to  devise  ways  and  means  for 
carrying  on  the  struggle  for  liberty.  Here  were 
discussed  the  questions  which  were  later  public 
actions  of  the  voters,  such  as,  "  to  encourage  the 
produce  and  manufactures  of  this  Province,  and  to 
lesson  the  use  of  superfluities;"  "not  to  use 
any  tea  till  the  duty  is  taken  off;"  "to  suspend 
all  commercial  intercourse  with  Great  Britain  till 
the  said  act  shall  be  repealed  ;  "  "  not  to  buy,  pur- 
chase, or  consume,  or  suffer  any  person  by,  for,  or 
under  us,  to  purchase  or  consume,  in  any  manner 
whatever,  any  goods,  wares,  or  merchandise,  which 
shall  arrive  in  America  from  Great  Britain,  and 
to  break  off  all  trade,  commerce,  or  dealing  with 
those  who  do  it,  and  to  consider  them  as  enemies 
to  their  covmtry  ; "  "June  17,  1776,  voted,  That  we 
will  solemnly  engage  with  our  lives  and  fortunes 
to  support  the  colonies  in  declaring  themselves 
independent  of  Great  Britain."  ^  The  master 
of  this  house  not  only  served  on  the  various 
committees  incident  to  the  above  votes,  but 
shouldered  his  musket  in  a  campaign  to  Rhode 
Island, 

1  The  above  votes  were  in  substance  the  action  of  the  towns  in 
general. 


OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BEDFORD       l8l 

THROUGH    THE    OLD    BURIAL-GROUND    OF    BEDFORD 
WITH    A    NONAGENARIAN. 

When  but  a  child,  I  found  something  congenial 
to  my  taste  in  the  habits  of  an  old  man  whom  the 
townspeople  familiarly  called  Uncle  Leander. 

It  was  not  a  benignant  smile  which  sometimes 
lights  up  the  faces  of  the  aged  as  they  approach 
the  sunset  of  life,  nor  was  it  any  special  attention 
shown  by  this  man  to  the  youth  of  the  village. 
In  neither  way  was  he  made  particularly  attrac- 
tive to  the  many.  But  to  me  alone  of  all  the 
children  of  the  town  who  passed  Uncle  Leander's 
door  on  the  way  to  school,  was  this  man  compan- 
ionable. This  was  because  of  his  efforts  to  stay 
the  ravages  of  time  in  the  Old  Burial-Ground. 

I  had  seen  him  on  several  occasions  with  a  pail 
of  whitewash,  and  a  brush  in  hand,  passing  about 
among  the  leaning  slabs,  and  here  and  there  ap- 
plying his  liquid  coating. 

I  was  quite  sure  that  some  wise  purpose  actu- 
ated him  in  his  repeated  visits  to  this  sacred 
enclosure.  My  resolve  to  inquire  into  this  pecu- 
liar work  was  often  of  no  avail,  because  of  my 
failing  courage  when  I  neared  the  gate  whose 
slats  I  had  so  often  heard  flapping  in  the  breeze. 
In  fact,  I  had  an  early  aversion  for  the  ancient 
sepulchres,  because  of  false  stories  told  me  of  the 
rude  designs  there  seen  on  many  stones.  But 
the  results  of  the  old  man's  work  recommended 


1 82  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

his  acts  to  me,  and  I  at  length  mustered  courage 
to  interview  him.  My  first  question  met  with  no 
reply  until  Uncle  Leander  had  stepped  to  an  old 
moss-covered  stone,  from  behind  which  he  took  a 
long  tin  trumpet,  which  he  placed  in  his  ear,  turn- 
ing the  larger  end  of  the  conical  tube  to  my 
mouth,  and  indicating  that  if  I  would  fathom  the 
fourscore  years  that  separated  us,  I  must  do  it 
through  this  instrument.  This  I  did,  and  met 
with  a  most  cheerful  reply.  In  fact,  the  old  man 
manifested  pleasure  that  one  so  young  should 
have  any  interest  in  his  work,  and  in  the  Old 
Burial-Ground,  where  were  resting  almost  all  of 
those  with  whom  he  began  life,  and  had  for  a  long 
time  journeyed. 

"  This  preparation  of  lime,"  said  he,  "  prevents 
the  moss  from  gathering,  and  keeps  the  epitaphs 
in  a  legible  condition." 

Having  observed  that  he  discriminated  in  his 
work  of  prevention,  I  ventured  to  again  penetrate 
his  dull  ear  and  learn  the  cause.  The  question 
brought  a  smile  to  the  aged  face  ;  and  he  said, 
"Come  with  me,  and  I  will  show  you."  Passing 
to  the  centre  of  the  yard,  he  paused  at  an  erect, 
well-kept  slab,  and  said,  "  Read  that,"  which  I 
did  aloud,  — 

IN   MEMORY   OF   CAPT.   JONATHAN   WILSON, 

WHO  WAS    KILLED   IN   CONCORD-FIGHT 

APRIL    I9TH,    A.D.    1775, 

IN   THE  41  ST   YEAR  OF   HIS  AGE. 


OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BEDFORD      1 83 

My  venerable  guide  stood  by  me  in  the  attitude 
of  a  listener;  but  he  knew  it  all,  and  needed  not 
to  hear  my  voice.  "  My  wife's  uncle,"  said  he; 
"  a  Bedford  patriot,  who  was  killed  on  the  first 
day  of  the  war."  Taking  up  his  pail  and  brush, 
he  led  the  way  to  another  section ;  paused,  and 
leaned  over  a  modest  slab  with  seeming  affection. 
This  I  read  as  before,  — 

HERE   LIES   THE   BODY   OF   GALLEY   FASSETT, 

DAUGHTER   OF   MR.   JOSEPH   AND   MRS.    DOROTHY   FASSETT, 

WHO   DEPARTED   THIS   LIFE   AUG.    22,    1 775, 

AGED    17    YEARS. 

"  My  father's  first  love,"  said  Uncle  Leander. 
"  My  father,  John  Hosmer,  was  engaged  to  be 
married  to  her,  a  most  beautiful  young  lady. 
When  the  Lexington  alarm  was  sounded,  he  left 
home,  and  did  his  duty  that  memorable  day,  and 
returned  safely,  staying  long  enough  to  bid  a 
tender  farewell  to  his  betrothed,  cheering  her  at 
parting  with  the  promise  of  a  speedy  return  when 
he  should  claim  her  as  his  bride.  He  occasionally 
received  some  carefully  prepared  dainty  from  her 
hand,  delivered  by  a  teamster  who  brought  food 
and  other  supplies  to  the  camp.  At  length  there 
came  a  time  when  neither  word  nor  package 
reached  him,  and  in  an  anxious  mood  he  lay  down 
in  his  camp  for  a  night's  rest.  But  harrowing 
dreams  disturbed  the  soldier's  slumber,  and  he 
awoke  by  a  call  to  duty  with  a  vivid  impression 
that  the  object  of  his  affection  had  died.    So  firmly 


1 84 


BEMEATff  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


fixed  was  the  impression,  that  he  obtained  a  leave 
of  absence  for  a  few  days,  and  made  haste  to 
Bedford.  As  he  approached  the  weather-beaten 
dwelling  through  a  bridle-path,  he  detected  un- 
usual movements,  and  soon  learned  the  painful 
reality  of  his  dream.  As  chief  mourner,  the 
young  soldier  followed  the  object  of  his  blighted 

affections  to  this 
grave,  and  sorrowfully 
returned  to  answer  his 
country's  call. 

"  The  years  of  war, 
when  death  in  its  most 
trying  forms  was  a 
common  occurrence, 
did  not  efface  from 
his  memory  the  scenes 
of  his  early  years. 

"Although  sur- 
rounded by  a  large 
and  prosperous  family,  my  father  never  forgot 
his  first  love,  but  conducted  his  children  and 
grandchildren  to  this  grave,  and  here  told  them 
the  story  which  has  led  me  to  keep  the  stone 
erect,  and  safe  from  the  ravages  of  time." 

Among  other  objects  of  the  old  man's  care  was 
the  stone  on  which  I  read, — 

SACRED 

TO  THE   MEMORY  OF   CAPT.   JOHN   MOORE, 

WHO   DIED   SEPT.    27TH    1807, 

AGED   78   YEARS. 


Here  lies  rha 
iMBodyofCAUey 
•AiFaffetDau^htei- 

K'MDorochvl'anetw)! 
1^.  deparffVl  (fif.sHfc, 
gk^Au5i'-2a^i7-fA^dfj 


Tombstone  of  Galley  Fasset 


.   OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BEDFORD      1 85 

Glory  with  all  her  lamps  shall  burn. 

To  ^vatch  the  Christian  ''s  sleeping  clay. 
Till  the  last  trumpet  cause  his  urn 
To  aid  the  triumph  of  that  day. 

"  He  was  captain  of  the  Bedford  militia,"  said 
my  guide ;  "  was  over  to  Concord  Fight,  and  also 
in  the  Continental  army.  He  was  one  of  the 
wealthy  of  the  town,  as  this  stone  indicates,  by 
its  size  and  style." 

To  the  graves  of  Solomon  Stearns  and  Reuben 
Bacon,  he  led  me,  pausing  only  to  say,  "  Fell  sick 
in  camp,  and  died  just  before  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker Hill.  Brave  patriots  they."  Lieutenant  Ed- 
ward Stearns's  grave  was  near  by,  and  the  stone 
was  one  that  Uncle  Leander  kept  in  order.  "  He 
took  Captain  Willson's  place  at  the  fight,"  said 
the  faithful  guide.  Lieutenant  Moses  Abbott's 
gravestone  was  another  that  had  received  the 
attention  of  this  man  with  the  pail  and  brush. 

"  Moses  Fitch,"  said  he  as  we  hastened  on, 
"wounded  at  White  Plains,"  at  the  same  time 
drawing  the  brush  across  the  smooth  surface  of 
an  unusually  tall  slab.  "  He  was  deacon,  had  a 
little  better  stone  than  some  ;  deacons  were  then 
people  of  distinction,  you  know." 

Reaching  over  to  an  irregular  row  in  the  rear, 
my  guide  said,  "  Solomon  Lane,"  at  the  same 
time  applying  his  brush  ;  "  he  was  at  Concord, 
with  scores  more  who  are  now  all  free  from  the 
tumult  of  war." 


1 86  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Stumbling  over  mounds  and  depressions,  alike 
suggestive  of  the  early  and  later  time,  we  came 
to  a  row  of  stones  of  a  size  and  design  indicative 
of  the  standing  of  the  family  in  the  town.  "They 
selected  this  corner  of  the  yard,"  said  Uncle 
Leander,  "  because  it  was  very  near  the  old  res- 
idence." The  inscription  was  easily  read  be- 
cause of  the  fresh  coating  of  whitewash.  It  was 
"  Erected  in  memory  of  John  Reed,  Esq.,  who 
died  Nov.  20,  1805,  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age." 
"A  member  of  the  first  and  second  Provincial 
Congresses,  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection,  and 
also  of  the  Convention  that  met  to  frame  a  consti- 
tution." So  well  had  my  guide  classified  the  pa- 
triots of  the  town  in  their  various  departments 
of  service,  that  he  readily  pointed  out  the  other 
stones  marking  the  graves  of  the  Committee  of 
Inspection,  each  of  which  had  received  the  careful 
attention  of  his  hand.  They  were  Moses  Abbott, 
already  mentioned ;  Thomas  Page,  who  died  July 
31,  1809,  aged  'j6  years  ;  Ebenezer  Page,  who  de- 
parted this  life  June  ye  9th,  1784,  aged  47  years 
and  6  days ;  and  Edward  Stearns,  whose  grave  we 
had  already  visited.  My  guide  confessed  to  hav' 
ing  become  puzzled  over  the  many  stones  erected 
to  the  memory  of  the  Pages.  As  they  all  had  been 
identified  with  the  military  interests  of  the  town, 
he  had  given  each  stone  the  same  treatment,  and 
proceeded  to  make  known  to  me  the  result  of  his 
study  in  this  direction.      He  read,   "  Cornet  Na- 


OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  nEDFOKD       1 87 

thaniel  Page,  who  died  March  2,  1755,  aged  ^6 
years,"  and  remarked,  "  He  must  have  been  the 
Nathaniel  of  the  second  generation,  who  was  in 
the  Indian  wars."  The  next  to  notice,  and  in 
order  of  generation,  was  "  Nathaniel  Page,  who 
died  April  6,  1779,  aged  'j6  years."  Here  my 
guide  thoughtfully  remarked  in  passing,  "  Too 
soon  to  realize  the  result  of  his  experience  at 
Concord,  which  was  hard  indeed  for  him,  then  72 
years  of  age."  He  next  led  the  way  to  a  stone 
on  which  I  read,  "  Cornet  John  Page,  who  died 
Feb.  18,  1782,  aged  ^6  years,"  and  remarked  dur- 
ing my  reading,  unheard  by  him,  "  He  was  a  very 
tall  man,  who  made  the  regulars  tremble.  He  was 
at  Lexington  on  the  eventful  morning,  and  aided 
in  capturing  several  prisoners.  He  was  also  at 
Bunker  Hill."  As  the  next  generation  in  order, 
my  guide  selected  the  following  inscription,  "  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Page,  who  died  July  31,  18 19,  aged  'j'j 
years,"  remarking,  "  He  carried  the  old  flag  with 
the  minute-men  to  Concord  Fight."  The  dif- 
ficulty of  making  any  inquiry  led  me  to  accept  all 
the  remarks  of  my  venerable  friend,  which  I  later 
proved  to  be  well  authenticated.  The  next  of  the 
name  was  found  to  be,  "  Nathaniel  Page,  who 
died  Aug.  30,  1858,  aged  83  years."  To  this  my 
guide  remarked,  "  Born  in  the  harvest-time  fol- 
lowing the  fight  at  Concord,  too  late  to  have  a 
part  in  the  Revolution  ;  but  he  was  on  hand  in 
18 1 2,  and  was  always  ready  to  take  part  in  the 


1 88  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

'  Cornwallis^  when  we  celebrated  the  surrender  of 
that  General  to  Washington."  Having  made  out 
the  successive  generations,  Uncle  Leander  made 
haste  to  call  my  attention  to  the  stones  marking 
the  graves  of  Sergeant  Christopher  Page  of  the 
minute-men,  and  William  Page  of  the  militia,  and 
paused  to  say,  "  Here  ought  to  be  a  stone  to 
the  memory  of  Timothy  Page,  who  was  one  of 
the  militia  at  Concord,  and  was  killed  at  White 
Plains." 

So  faithfully  had  this  aged  man  studied  these 
modest  memorials,  that  he  led  me  to  the  graves 
of  other  Bedford  patriots,  where,  now  that  my 
guide  has  passed  away,  I  read,  "  Lieut.  John  Mer- 
riarri,  Sergeant  James  Wright,  Lieut.  Eleazer  Da- 
vis, Fifer  David  Lane,"  all  of  the  militia  who 
served  in  the  opening  of  the  war,  also  "  James 
Lane,  Jr.,  3d,  Oliver  Reed,  Jr.,  Samuel  Lane,  Is- 
rael Putnam,  Jr.,  Samuel  Bacon,  Samuel  Davis, 
Thaddeus  Davis,  William  Maxwell,  Samuel  Meads, 
Samuel  Merriam,  David  Fitch,  Abijah  Bacon, 
Ziba  Lane,  Josiah  Davis,  John  Lane,  Joseph 
Hartwell,  Thomas  Bacon,  John  Fitch,  Samuel 
Lane,  Jr.,  Job  Lane,  Jr.,  Matthew  Pollard, 
Stephen  Lane,  Oliver  Pollard,  Jr.,  John  Reed." 

Of  the  minute-men  indicated  by  my  guide,  and 
later  verified,  I  read,  "  Sergeant  Ebenezer  Fitch, 
2d  Lt.  Timothy  Jones,  Joseph  Meads,  Jr.,  Reuben 
Bacon  (before  mentioned),  Oliver  Bacon,  drum- 
mer, Jonas  Gleason,   David  Bacon,    David  Reed, 


OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BEDFORD       1 89 

Nathan  Bacon,  Elijah  Bacon,  Lieut.  William  Mer- 
riam,  Matthew  Fitch." 

By  the  time  we  had  gone  the  rounds  of  the 
Revolutionary  list,  my  guide  had  become  so 
aroused  with  the  spirit  of  the  days  when  these 
men  left  their  homes  at  the  midnight  call,  that 
he  could  not  refrain  from  seeking  out  a  very 
ancient  stone,  on  which  I  read,  — 

IN   MEMORY   OF   MR.    JOHN   ABBOTT, 

WHO   DIED  IN   YE   ARMY   AT   LAKE   GEORGE, 

NOV.    YE   2D,    1756, 

AGED   25    YEARS. 

He  also  directed  me  to  a  space,  apparently  vacant, 
which  he  thought  was  reserved  in  memory  of 
Nathaniel  Merriam,  who  died  in  his  Majesty's 
service  at  Lake  George,  in  September,   1758. 

This  faithful  old  man  had  thus  adopted  a  method 
of  marking  the  graves  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Rev- 
olution many  years  before  any  organization  had 
sprung  up  to  do  it.  The  whitewashed  slabs 
throughout  that  enclosure  indicated  the  resting- 
place  of  a  good  share  of  the  seventy-seven  men 
from  Bedford  who  were  seen  at  Concord  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fight. 

Halting  near  the  centre  of  the  enclosure,  my 
faithful  guide  repeated  the  effort  made  many 
times  before  this  day,  to  straighten  up  one  of  the 
most  ancient  stones,  but  which  as  often  settled 
back   to    its    long   accustomed   position.       While 


1 90  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

thus  engaged,  Uncle  Leander  seemed  to  have  for- 
gotten his  youthful  companion,  and  meditated  in 
a  half  audible  manner,  "  Dea.  Israel  Putnam,  died 
November  ye  12th,  1760."  When,  having  fully 
satisfied  himself  of  the  difficulty  of  changing  the 
habit  of  anything,  even  a  gravestone,  which  had 
followed  its  own  inclination  for  more  than  a 
century,  the  old  man  turned  about,  and  shouted, 
"Here,  boy,  let  me  tell  you  about  this.  In  a  half- 
charmed,  half-frightened  state  of  mind,  I  stepped 
forward,  and  gave  heed  to  the  narrative,  while  my 
eyes  were  seemingly  riveted  to  the  rude  carvings 
before  me.  "  Brave  man,"  said  he,  "  Israel  Put- 
man  ^as  a  relative  of  General  Israel,  who  faced 
the  wolf  and  the  British  as  well.  He  settled  over 
opposite  here  in  1721,  and  was  one  of  the  promi- 
nent founders  of  this  town.  He  gave  the  land 
for  this  burial-place,  and  might  well  have  this 
central  location  himself.  He  was  the  first  deacon 
of  the  church  and  a  leading  citizen."  Having 
discharged  his  obligation  to  the  memory  of  one 
who  took  the  first  steps  towards  the  incorporation 
of  the  town  of  Bedford,  my  guide  turned  about, 
and,  placing  his  trembling  hand  upon  a  stone 
near  by,  said,  "This  marks  the  grave  of  Jonathan 
Bacon,  whose  daughter  Sarah  became  the  wife  of 
Israel  Putnam.  Hence  you  see  their  close  re- 
lation in  death  is  suggestive  of  their  intimacy 
in  life."  I  must  confess  that  it  was  only  the 
main  fact  that  was  intelligible  to  me  in  my  youth, 


OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BEDFORD        19I 

the   minor   points    having   later  become  realities 
to  me. 

Jonathan  Bacon,  "  a  principal  inhabitanc,"  was 
the  leader  in  the  formation  of  the  church  and 
town,  and  one  whose  years  gave  him  the  prece- 
dence in  the  entire  enterprise.  Another  stone 
which  was  the  object  of  the  old  man's  care  made 
up  an  interesting  trio.  On  it  I  read,  "Doc.  John 
Fassett,  died  January  30th,  1736,  aged  66  years." 
"  He  was  the  first  resident  physician,  famous  for 
bleeding  and  blistering.  If  he  had  lived  a  few 
years  longer,  there  might  not  have  been  so  many 
of  those  little  stones  as  you  see  over  there."  With 
this  remark,  accompanied  by  a  wise  shake  of  his 
gray  locks.  Uncle  Leander  moved  on,  keeping  a 
sure  grasp  upon  his  pail  and  brush,  of  which  he 
occasionally  made  use.  Halting  before  a  sunken 
memorial,  he  said,  "This  triple  stone,  and  that 
one  over  yonder,  suggest  the  ravages  of  a  throat 
distemper  which  brought  sorrow  to  a  good  many 
families  in  this  town  and  throughout  the  coun- 
try." By  careful  examination  I  found  that  my 
guide  was  doubtless  right ;  for  I  there  learned  that 
within  ten  days,  in  the  year  1754,  Mr.  Christopher 
and  Mrs.  Susannah  Page  parted  with  three  little 
children,  and  that  many  other  little  mounds  were 
made  in  that  burial-ground  during  the  same  time. 
Coming  to  the  north-east  corner  of  the  enclosure, 
my  guide  said,  "This  was  the  African  reservation, 
the  place  where  the  family  slaves  were  buried, 


192  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

and  the  paupers  as  well."  This  locality  was  con- 
spicuous for  the  absence  of  memorial  stones ;  the 
levelling  hand  of  time  had  failed  to  obliterate  the 
mounds  that  lay  in  methodical  rows,  each  mould- 
ering heap  as  suggestive  of  mortality  as  though 
dignified  by  the  sculptor's  hand  and  the  motto, 
'  *  Mem  ento  in  ori. 

"A  good  many  old  slaves  lay  there,"  said  my 
guide,  flourishing  his  brush  as  though  he  would 
like  to  wipe  out  that  part  of  the  annals  of  the 
town,  and  that  peculiar  chapter  in  the  history  of 
the  New  England  colonies.  In  passing  along,  my 
oracle  did  not  fail  to  express  his  contempt  for  one 
who  had  lived  in  the  community,  —  "a  miser," 
said  he,  "  lived  to  be  almost  a  hundred,  but  how 
much  better  was  the  town  for  his  having  lived  in 
it  .-*  "  A  flourish  of  his  brush,  and  a  thump  upon 
the  stone,  gave  emphasis  to  the  old  man's  indig- 
nation. Leading  on  to  another  locality,  my  guide 
directed  my  attention  to  a  stone  of  which  he  re- 
marked, "  Queer  old  minister,  that  Penniman, — a 
sort  of  a  Tory  he  was  ;  thought  he  was  doing  his 
duty  by  staying  at  home  and  praying  on  the  19th 
of  April,  1775,  when  all  his  parishioners  were  up 
in  arms,"  While  the  old  man  gave  vent  to  his 
feelings  in  regard  to  the-minister  of  the  town  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  I  was  endeavoring  to  remove 
the  lichen  which  hid  the  inscription  ;  for  the  old 
man's  whitewash  brush  had  not  been  applied 
here,  any  more  than  it  had  been  on  the  stone  last 


OLD  BURIAL-GROUND  AT  BEDFORD       1 93 

noticed.  My  surprise  at  not  finding  the  sepulchre 
of  the  minister  brought  forth  the  exclamation, 
"  Oh,  no  !  that  parson  was  hurried  off ;  but  he  has 
left  us  a  record  of  his  peculiarities  in  the  inscrip- 
tions which  you  read  there  on  the  stones  at  the 
graves  of  his  children." 

HANNAH,    DAUGHTER    OF   REV.    JOSEPH   PENNIMAN 
AND   HANNAH,    HIS   WIFE, 
WHO   DIED    DEC.    22,   I79O, 
AGED    18   YEARS,    4   MOS.,    II    DAYS. 

Ah  !  no7v  no  notice  do  you  give 
Where  you  are  and  hoT-V  you  live  ! 
What !  are  you  then  bound  by  solemn  fate. 
To  keep  the  secret  of  your  state  ? 
The  alarming  voice  you  will  hear. 
When   Christ  the  Judge  shall  appear, 
Hannah  !  from  the  dark  lonely  vault. 
Certainly,  soon  and  suddenly  you'll  come. 
When  Jesus  shall  claim  the  treasure  from  the  tomb. 

On  the  stone  at  the  grave  of  Molly,  who  died  in 
1778,  at  the  age  of  3  years,  6  months,  3  days,  is  to 
be  read, — 

Ah  !  dear  Polly,  must  your  tender  parents  mourn. 
Their  heavy  loss,  and  bathe  with  tears  your  urn. 
Since  no-w  no  more  to  us  you  must  return. 

The  diverted  attention  of  my  guide  led  him  to 
be  unusually  free  with  his  wash ;  and  seeing  the 
pail  was  empty,  he  thoughtfully  leaned  over  to 
me,  raised  his  trembling  voice,  and  said,  "  I  sha'n't 
be  here  long  to  attend  to  these  patriots'  graves. 


194 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOE   TREES 


You  boys  must  do  it ;  for  if  it  had  not  been  for 
such  men  and  women  as  lay  here,  we  should  be 
crouching  beneath  the  paw  of  the  British  lion 
to-day." 


In  Memory  of  Cap* 
Jonathan  Willfonwho 
vvjiJ  Killed  in  Concord 
Kigh)  April  ip'!"  Ki^^^i. 
n    the  41?  ywjrof  hiiAfJp.  I 


Stone  at  Grave  oi" 

Captain  Jonathan  Willson  in  Beijford 

(the  same  design  is  seen  at  top  of  the  stone  erected 

TO  the  memory  of 

Captain  Isaac  Davis  at  Acton) 


FLAG   OF    THE  MINUTE-MEN  OF  BEDFORD      1 95 


CHAPTER    XVI 

THE    OLD    COLONIAL    BANNER    AND    FLAG    OF    THE 
MINUTE-MEN    OF    BEDFORD 

[An  address  delivered  by  the  author,  April  19,  1895.] 

Every  event  of  the  Revolution,  though  inci- 
dental and  comparatively  trifling,  should  be  gath- 
ered up  and  put  in  enduring  form,  in  order  that 
the  rising  generation  may  have  a  just  appreciation 
of  the  heritage  to  which  they  are  born,  and  which 
they  are  bound  to  maintain  and  protect. 

Monuments  and  statues  have  been  erected  in 
liberal  numbers,  especially  since  the  centennial 
year.  Concord,  Lexington,  and  Bunker  Hill  have 
become  familiar  to  every  schoolboy,  while  the 
entire  route  from  Old  North  Church  to  Old  North 
Bridge  has  been  indicated  by  enduring  tablets. 

But  while  these  greater  things  have  engrossed 
our  attention,  the  smaller,  equally  significant,  have 
been  lost  from  view. 

Not  until  a  comparatively  recent  date  has  the 
flag  of  the  minute-men  been  known  to  be  in  ex- 
istence. It  matters  not  whether  we  are  descend- 
ants of  the  brave  men  who  were  in  the  opening 
scenes  of  the  Revolution,  or  whether  we  perpet- 
uate those  who  were  in    the  Continental  army, 


196 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 


we  must  be  interested  in  the  slightest  detail  of 
that  day  when  was  "  fired  the  shot  heard  round 
the  world." 


Flag  of  the  Middlesex  Regiment  of  the  Militia  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  Carried  by  Nathaniel 
Page  in  the  Company  of  Bedford  Minute-men  at  Con- 
cord Fight,  April  19,  1775 

When  Emerson  penned  the  beautiful  lines,  — 

"  By  the  rude  bridge  that  arched  the  flood, 
Their  flag  to  April's  breeze  unfurled," 


FLAG   OF   THE  MINUTE-MEN  OF  BEDFORD      197 

he  had  no  thought  that  the  "  embattled  farmers" 
had  a  flag.  It  was  a  poetical  figure.  Surprised 
indeed  must  he  have  been,  when  delivering  the 
address  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Minute-Man  in 
1875,  to  r^st  his  eyes  upon  the  only  banner 
carried  a  century  earlier  in  the  heat  of  that  strug- 
gle which  his  pen  has  so  beautifully  portrayed. 
It  proved  his  poetic  thought  to  have  been  tinged 
with  double  reality. 

CONCORD   FIGHT. 

"  By  the  rude  bridge  that  arched  the  flood, 
Their  flag  to  April's  breeze  unfurled, 
Here  once  the  embattled  farmers  stood. 
And  fired  the  shot  heard  round  the  world. 

The  foe  long  since  in  silence  slept ; 
Alike  the  conqueror  silent  sleeps  ; 
And  Time  the  ruined  bridge  has  swept 
Down  the  dark  stream  which  seaward  creeps. 

'  On  this  green  bank,  by  this  soft  stream, 

We  set  to-day  a  votive  stone; 
That  memory  may  their  deed  redeem. 
When,  like  our  sires,  our  sons  are  gone. 

Spirit,  that  made  those  heroes  dare 
To  die,  and  leave  their  children  free. 
Bid  Time  and  Nature  gently  spare 
The  shaft  we  raise  to  them  and  Thee." 

Written  by  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  and  sung  at  the  dedication  of  the  gran- 
ite shaft  erected  in  i8j6. 

The  historic  bridge  was  demolished  when  the  original  road  was  abandoned. 
A  rustic  bridge  was  built  at  the  same  place  preparatory  to  the  centennial  cele- 
bration, 1S75.  (See  story  of  "  A  Concord  Patriot  "  in  this  volume.)  This  bridge 
was  partly  carried  away  by  a  spring  flood,  but  has  been  more  strongly  built. 


198  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

The  minute-men  of  Bedford  had  a  flag ;  but  I  do 
not  presume  to  assert  to  any  one,  much  less  to 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  that  it  was 
a  flag  planned  for  this  service.  We  know  too 
well  how  the  yeomen  soldiers  were  organized  for 
service  to  think  of  their  making  any  such  prep- 
aration. Neither  Hancock  with  his  abundant 
wealth,  nor  Adams  with  his  abounding  patriot- 
ism, had  thought  of  any  standard  for  the  little 
companies  that  were  being  drilled  for  a  moment's 
warning.  They  were  too  busily  engrossed  with 
the  weighter  matters  of  the  time. 

When  Adams  from  the  heights  of  Lexington 
saw  in  that  gorgeous  April  sunrise  a  figure  of  the 
future  glory  of  America,  it  was  with  no  thought 
that  the  flag  of  the  future  republic  was  to  be 
spangled  with  the  galaxy  of  the  heavens. 

But  in  the  old  town  of  Bedford  was  the  stand- 
ard destined  to  be  the  flag  of  the  minute-men 
of  that  town. 

Like  many  another  important  event  of  history, 
this  was  not  the  result  of  any  preconcerted  action. 
Neither  were  the  bloody  scenes  at  Lexington 
Common  and  Old  North  Bridge,  which  have  been 
subjects  for  the  admiration  of  all  patriots,  of  every 
clime,  for  more  than  a  century. 

A  local  company  of  cavalry  was  raised  in  this 
colony  in  1659,  just  before  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.  It  comprehended  Essex,  Suffolk,  and 
Middlesex  in   Massachusetts.     It  was  known  as 


FLAG   OF   THE  MINUTE-MEN  OF  CONCORD      1 99 

the  "Three  County  Troop."  This  remained  in  ex- 
istence until  1677,  or  possibly  later.  It  is  certain 
that  it  was  in  active  service  during  King  Philip's 
war.  The  formation  of  this  company  of  cavalry 
leads  to  the  conclusion  that  there  must  have  been 
a  standard,  cornet  as  it  was  then  termed,  "  upon 
which  arms  were  emblazoned." 

With  the  fact  of  the  cavalry  company  thor- 
oughly established,  and  with  the  ancient  standard 
before  us,  we  naturally  conclude  that  our  "  Flag 
of  the  Minute-men  "  was  the  cornet  of  the  "  Three 
Country  Troop."  In  the  way  of  corroborative 
evidence  I  would  cite  an  entry  said  to  be  in  a 
herald  painter's  book  of  the  time  of  Charles  I., 
which  Mr.  Whitmore  says  is  preserved  in  the 
British  Museum. 

It  is  as  follows  :  — 

Work  Done  for  New  England  — 

For  painting  in  oyel  on  both  sides  a  Cornett 

one  rich  crimson   damask,  with  a  hand 

and  sword,  and  invelloped  with   a  scarf 

about  the  arms  of  gold,  black,  and  silver,  £,2  os.  6ti. 
For    a    plain   Cornette    staffe    with     belte, 

boote  and  swible  at  first  penny  ....  100 

For  silk  of  crimson  and  silver  fringe  and  for 

a  Cornett  string i     1 1     o 

For  Crimson  Damask no 

£S     2 J.  6d. 

It  is  certain  that  the  herald  painter's  bill  made 
almost  two   hundred   and   twenty-five  years  ago 


2CX3  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

identifies  our  flag.  No  modern  detective  could 
ask  for  more  definite  description. 

The  "  belte,  boote  and  swible  "  are  gone.  The 
silver  fringe  is  also  missing ;  but  I  have  the  word 
of  Madam  Ruhamah  Lane,  late  of  Bedford,  when 
past  her  ninetieth  year :  "  I  took  that  silver 
fringe  from  that  old  flag  when  I  was  a  giddy  girl, 
and  trimmed  a  dress  for  a  military  ball.  I  was 
never  more  sorry  for  anything  than  that  which 
resulted  in  the  loss  of  the  fringe." 

Hon.  Jonathan  A.  Lane  of  Boston,  son  of  the 
venerable  woman  above  quoted,  told  me  that  he 
had  the  same  story  from  his  mother's  lips  when 
she  was  in  the  prime  of  life. 

The  presence  of  the  flag  in  Bedford  is  easily 
accounted  for. 

Nathaniel  Page,  referred  to  in  the  chapter  im- 
mediately preceding  this,  was  the  first  of  the  fam- 
ily in  possession  of  the  flag.  He  was  a  military 
man,  connected  with  the  "Three  County  Troop" 
as  cornet  or  bearer  of  the  standard.  This  was 
a  position  held  by  several  generations  of  his 
descendants  in  later  military  organizations,  as 
witness  their  ancient  gravestones. 

CORNET   NATHANIEL   PAGE,    DIED  MARCH   2,    1755,    AGED  76. 

CORNET   NATHANIEL   PAGE,    DIED   APRIL   6,    1/79,    AGED   76. 

CORNET  JOHN   PAGE,    DIED   FEB.    18,    I782,    AGED   78. 

The  ancient  standard  was  brought  to  Bedford 
by  Nathaniel  Page,  when  he  settled  in  Shawsheen 


FLAG   OF  THE  MINUTE-MEN  OF  BEDFORD      201 

(Bedford)  ;  and  being  in  the  house,  it  was  taken 
by  Nathaniel  Page  3d,  a  Bedford  minute-man,  and 
borne  to  Concord,  and  there  waved  above  the 
smoke  of  that  battle,  "  the  first  forcible  resist- 
ance to  British  aggression." 

The  Page  family,  as  already  shown,  owned  the 
same  house  which  they  occupied  for  many  gene- 
rations, and  which  is  still  in  the  family.  From  the 
ancestor  who  hastily  seized  that  flag,  and  hastened 
to  Concord  with  the  minute-men  of  Bedford,  has 
come  the  story  to  generation  after  generation. 
Madam  Lane,  already  quoted,  had  the  story  of 
the  standard-bearer,  her  father,  from  his  own  lips. 
Mr.  Appleton,  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  So- 
ciety, says,  "It  was  originally  designed,  in  1660- 
70,  for  the  Three  County  Troop  of  Middlesex,  and 
became  one  of  the  accepted  standards  of  the 
organized  militia  of  the  State,  and  as  such  it 
was  used  by  the  Bedford  company.  In  my  opin- 
ion this  flag  far  exceeds  in  historic  value  the 
famed  flag  of  Eutaw  and  Pulaski's   banner,^  and 

^  Count  Pulaski,  a  Polish  officer,  was  appointed  a  brigadier  in 
the  Continental  army  on  Sept.  15,  1777,  just  after  the  battle  of 
Brandywine,  and  was  given  the  command  of  the  cavalry.  This  he 
resigned,  and  later  organized  a  corps  of  cavalry. 

Pulaski  visited  Lafayette  while  wounded  and  a  recipient  of  the 
care  and  hospitality  of  the  Moravian  sisters,  at  Bethlehem,  Pa. 
His  presence  and  eventful  history  made  deep  impression  upon  the 
minds  of  that  community.  When  informed  that  he  was  organiz- 
ing the  corps  of  cavalry  they  prepared  a  banner  of  crimson  silk 
for  him.  It  was  beautifully  wrought  with  various  designs,  and  sent 
to  the  Count  with  their  blessings. 


202  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

in  fact  is  the  most  precious  memorial  of  its  kind 
of  which  we  have  any  knowledge." 

"  The  Flag  of  the  Minute-men,"  issued  by  the 
author  of  this  book  in  1894,  is  thus  indorsed:  — 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
Executive  Department, 

Boston,  April  i,  1895. 
Dear  Mr.  Brown, — 

Your  "  Souvenir  "  is  a  work  of  art,  admirably  planned 
and  executed.     I  congratulate  you  on  the  work. 
Truly  yours, 

F.  T.  Greenhalge. 

Concord,  Mass.,  April  \,  1895. 
Mr.  Abram  English  Brown,  Bedford. 
My  dear  Sir,  — 

I  have  read  with  great  interest  your  Souvenir,  and  note 
with  peculiar  pride  "  The  Flag  of  the  Minute-men,"  which  is 
now  so  valuable,  as  being  the  identical  flag  carried  at  "  Con- 
cord Fight."  As  the  years  roll  on  this  flag  will  be  more  and 
more  valued  by  the  patriotic  people  of  our  land. 
Sincerely  yours, 

Edwin  S.  Barrett, 

President  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  of  the  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolutioti. 

Pulaski  received  the  banner  with  grateful  acknowledgments, 
and  bore  it  gallantly  through  many  a  martial  scene,  until  he  fell 
in  conflict  at  Savannah  in  the  autumn  of  1779. 

His  banner  was  saved  by  his  first  lieutenant,  who  received 
fourteen  wounds.  It  was  taken  to  Baltimore,  and  kept  until  1824, 
when  it  was  carried  in  the  procession  that  welcomed  Lafayette  to 
that  city.     It  was  later  given  to  the  Maryland  Historical  Society. 


FLAG   OF   THE  MINUTE-MEN  OF  BEDFORD      203 

April,  1895. 
"  The  Flag  of  the  Minute-men,  April  19,  1775."  ^^s  origin 
and  history  by  Abram  English  Brown  is  one  of  those  invalu- 
able historical  records,  that,  once  lost,  is  lost  for  all  time.  It 
is  due  to  the  indefatigable,  painstaking  care  of  the  author 
that  the  patriotic  effort  was  put  forth  whereby  the  old  flag  is 
now  held  in  public  trust,  —  the  sacred  emblem  of  freedom 
and  truth,  and  that  equality  that  gives  "to  every  man  the 
right  of  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness."  It  is  a 
book  for  every  member  of  a  patriotic  society  to  own  —  this 
little  history  of  the  first  flag  of  our  country. 

Mrs.  Daniel  Lothrop, 

Regent  of  Old  Concord  Chapter  Daughters  of  the 

American  Revolutiofi. 

President  of  National  Society  of  Children  of  the 

A  tnerican  Revolution. 

After  the  experience  of  April  19,  1775,  the  flag 
was  kept  in  the  Page  garret,  seldom  seen  by  any 
one,  and  by  none  appreciated,  until  on  the  morn- 
ing of  April  19,  1875,  a  century's  dust  was  shaken 
off  the  damask  folds,  and  it  was  carried  by  the 
Bedford  delegation  in  the  procession  at  Concord, 
and  there  unfurled  again  by  the  rude  bridge. 
After  the  service  of  that  day  it  was  returned  to 
the  same  hiding-place,  and  there  remained  ten 
years  longer,  when  it  was  brought  out  by  Captain 
Cyrus  Page,  who  was  the  embodiment  of  the 
military  zeal  of  his  ancestors,  and  by  him  pre- 
sented to  the  town  of  Bedford,  on  Oct.  19,  1885, 
the  anniversary  of  the  surrender  by  Cornwallis  to 
Washington. 


204  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   XVII 

cupid's  heirloom 

WHAT  a  bustle  there  was  in  the 
old  Fitch  home  of  Bedford  on 
the  morning  of  April  19,  1775  ! 
Before  the  first  note  of  the  robin 
was  heard  in  the  orchard  in  the 
rear  of  the  house,  lights  were  seen  flitting  about 
from  room  to  room,  and  long  before  the  sun 
appeared  above  the  horizon  three  stalwart  young 
men  were  bidden  a  hasty  farewell  by  mother  and 
sisters,  and  made  a  quick  step  to  the  village. 

"  Be  sure  and  get  something  warm  at  Jere- 
miah's," was  the  loving  request  of  the  mother,  an 
afterthought  expressed  at  the  door  when  the  boys 
were  beyond  the  hearing  of  the  loving  mother's 
voice.  Jeremiah  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  family, 
who  had  set  up  the  business  of  a  tavern-keeper  in 
the  village  ;  and  being  sergeant  of  the  minute- 
men  of  the  town,  it  had  been  agreed  that,  in  case 
of  alarm,  the  company  should  assemble  there. 

John  and  Matthew,  the  twins  of  the  family, 
reached  Jeremiah's  a  full  half-hour  before  Moses 
did..  They  started  together;  but  he  could  not 
refrain  from  running  across  the  meadows  to  say 


CUPID'S  HEIRLOOM  205 

a  last  word  to  Rachel,  a  neighbor's  daughter,  for 
whom  he  had  a  tender  interest. 

Although  glad  to  see  him,  she  would  not  detain 
the  young  man,  being  fully  aware  of  the  alarm 
that  had  already  called  her  father,  Lieutenant 
Edward  Stearns,  and  his  eldest  son,  Solomon, 
from  the  home.  Rachel  was  the  eldest  of  the 
three  daughters  of  the  home  ;  she  was  a  rosy- 
cheeked  lass,  already  promised  to  be  the  wife  of 
Moses,  who  was  three  years  her  senior. 

Despite  the  anxiety  in  both  homes  during  that 
day,  there  was  more  than  ordinary  activity  with 
those  who  were  left.  Rye  pancakes  were  prepared 
by  the  peck,  while  the  great  iron  kettle  which 
hung  from  the  crane  was  filled  and  emptied  many 
times  in  the  process  of  cooking  salt  pork  and  vege- 
tables for  the  absent  men. 

Rachel,  with  her  two  sisters,  Susannah  and 
Alice,  lost  no  time  in  the  manufacture  of  bullets 
and  cartridges.  Thus  the  day  of  anxiety  wore 
away  in  the  homes,  while  the  absent  ones  had 
scarcely  time  to  think  of  home. 

With  the  dead  and  wounded  was  brought  the 
message  that  the  able-bodied  would  not  be  home 
that  day,  and  the  order  to  send  the  provisions 
down  toward  Boston  where  it  was  supposed  the 
enemy  would  be  held.  It  fell  to  the  women  and 
few  men  remaining  in  the  town  to  bury  the  brave 
Captain  Jonathan  Willson,  while  the  immediate 
family  of  Job  Lane  cared  for  him,  in  whose  body 


2o6  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

was  yet  hidden  the  well-aimed  bullet  of  the 
enemy.  The  return  of  Lieutenant  Stearns  after 
three  days  brought  tidings  from  the  absent,  but 
no  relief  to  Rachel,  who  now  learned  that  her 
brother  Solomon  and  lover  Moses  had  decided 
to  remain  on  duty  indefinitely.  But  the  brave 
of  either  sex  spent  no  time  in  idle  lamentation. 
Between  cooking,  spinning,  and  knitting  every 
moment  was  occupied ;  and  not  a  day  passed  but 
some  one  in  the  town  took  a  load  of  provisions 
to  the  Cambridge  camp.  Moses  Fitch  received 
a  double  share ;  not  only  did  the  package  from  his 
home  contain  the  bountiful  evidence  of  the  soli- 
citude of  mother  and  sisters,  but  in  the  Stearns 
bundle  was  always  sure  to  be  found  some  re- 
minder of  Rachel's  love. 

Scarcely  had  a  month  elapsed  before  exposure 
and  fatigue  began  its  destructive  work.  One  after 
another  of  the  young  men  were  brought  to  their 
homes  to  languish  and  die  ;  among  these  was  Solo- 
mon Stearns.  Then,  as  not  before,  did  the  brave 
heart  of  Rachel  grow  faint.  She  saw  but  ^'"^tle 
prospect  of  her  lover's  ever  returning  to  redeem 
his  promise  made  months  before,  and  renewed 
with  a  fond  embrace  on  the  morning  of  April  19. 
These  lovers  had  secretly  agreed  that  their  mar- 
riage should  be  solemnized  by  the  use  of  a 
ring.  This  was  a  great  innovation  upon  family 
custom  ;  for  both  families  were  strong  Congrega- 
tionalists,  and  shared  in  that  contempt  for  any- 


CUPID'S  HEIRLOOM  20/ 

thing  that  savored  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
especially  now  that  the  king  was  making  an  at- 
tempt to  rob  them  of  what  liberties  they  had 
enjoyed.  The  prospect  of  their  marriage  was  poor 
indeed.  Moses  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  continue 
in  the  service,  and  Rachel  was  too  much  of  a 
patriot  to  say  anything  against  it. 

The  evacuation  of  Boston  brought  cheer  to 
many  homes.  By  some  it  was  thought  to  be  the 
end  of  the  difficulty,  and  the  triumph  of  the 
Colonial  cause  ;  but  it  soon  became  apparent  that 
fighting  was  to  be  done  elsewhere.  While  the 
seat  of  war  had  removed  from  Massachusetts  Bay, 
there  was  yet  to  be  fighting,  and  Massachusetts 
men  must  be  in  it.  When  Rachel  was  plying  her 
spinning-wheel  with  renewed  courage,  there  came 
the  call  for  a  seventh, campaign.  This  time  eight 
men  must  go  from  Bedford  to  New  York,  and 
Moses  Fitch  was  of  that  number.  The  distance 
made  it  harder  for  Rachel  to  bear ;  but  she  was 
a  patriot,  and  willingly  made  the  sacrifice  of  com- 
fort, fearing  only  that  she  might  be  called  upon 
to  make  a  greater  sacrifice.  She  could  no  longer 
send  the  little  dainties  to  camp,  and  thus  comfort 
herself  by  cheering  the  one  whom  she  had  loved 
from  the  days  when  they  had  together  gone  to 
the  little  school  on  the  hill,  half-way  between 
their  respective  homes.  Then,  whatever  troubled 
one  brought  a  shadow  over  the  other's  face  ;  and  so 
it  had  been  down  to  the  time  when  their  greatest 


208  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

trouble  was  their  country's  sorrow.  She  kept  the 
little  wheel  going,  and  week  by  week  added  new 
pieces  to  her  store  of  fine  linen,  while  with  her 
own  hands  she  tended  the  fresh  crop  of  flax. 

It  was  into  the  month  of  November  before 
the  sad  tidings  were  received  from  the  battle  of 
White  Plains,  fought  on  the  28th  of  the  previous 
month.  Not  since  the  19th  of  April  of  the  pre- 
vious year  had  such  sorrow  filled  the  hearts  of 
the  people  of  this  little  town.  Timothy  Page  had 
been  killed  and  Moses  Fitch  wounded.  Rachel 
was  now  ready  to  enter  the  service  as  a  nurse ; 
but  being  denied  this  privilege,  she  set  to  work 
in  the  preparation  of  bandages  and  lint  for  the 
use  of  the  army  surgeons.  Months  wore  away, 
during  which  occasional  messages  brought  the  as- 
surance that  the  wounded  patriot  would  recover, 
and  soon  be  able  to  return  to  his  home.  At 
length  in  an  unexpected  hour  he  appeared,  with 
one  arm  hanging  useless  at  his  side.  With  a 
reasonable  expectation  of  ultimate  recovery,  the 
young  man  endured  the  privation,  with  the  aid 
and  sympathy  of  those  who  loved  him.  With 
little  prospect  of  either  pay  or  pension,  these 
young  people  wefit  on  with  their  plans.  When 
the  soldier's  pay  came,  it  was  in  the  form  of  the 
Continental  currency,  more  bulky  than  valuable  ; 
but  all  this  could  not  deter  them  from  their  one 
purpose. 

Rachel  belonged  to  the    "  Daughters  of   Lib 


CUPID'S  HEIRLOOM 


209 


erty,"  and  was  resolved  to  be  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  in  a  gown  of  her  own  manufacture.  To  this 
Moses  was  agreed  ;  but  one  purpose  was  to  be 
carried  out,  no  matter  how  great  the  self-denial 
in  other  directions.  Rachel  was  to  have  a  wed- 
ding-ring. There  was  no  stipulation  as  to  quality, 
unless  the  empty  purse  of  her  lover  was  to  make 
one.      The  wounded  patriot  disposed  of  a  good 


Continental  Currency 


share  of  his  depreciated  currency,  and  secured  the 
ring,  all  unknown  to  Rachel,  who  had  a  secret 
plan  to  drop  a  bit  of  her  slowly  accumulated  coin 
into  the  empty  purse  before  this  long  anticipated 
day  arrived.  Before  the  sounds  of  war  had  fully 
ceased,  the  day  was  set  when  the  friends  of  Moses 
and  Rachel  should  assemble,  and  witness  the  cere- 
mony by  which  the  attachment  of  childhood  was 


2IO  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

to  be  consummated  in  marriage.  It  was  just 
here    that    a    new   difficulty   arose.      The    Rev. 

Mr. ,  the  only  parson  of  the  town,  had  leaned 

too  strongly  towards  the  Tory  sentiment  to  be 
invited  to  unite  these  young  patriots  in  the  bonds 
of  wedlock.  To  fail  to  do  it  would  be  a  great 
breach  of  propriety;  but  he  who  had  said,  when 
the  regulars  were  on  the  march  to  Concord,  "You 
go  and  fight,  and  I  will  stay  here  and  pray,"  could 
not  be  invited  to  this  service.  To  use  the  ring 
and  omit  the  minister  would  not  be  in  the  line  of 
good  Congregationalism  ;  but  it  was  in  the  time 
of  war,  and  this  seeming  contradictory  act  must 
be  explained  by  each  guest  and  interested  neigh- 
bor for  himself. 

It  was  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1782,  that  Moses 
Fitch,  in  his  homespun  suit,  led  Rachel  Stearns, 
in  a  dress  of  her  own  manufacture,  to  the  mar- 
riage altar.  While  the  "  Squire "  of  the  town 
made  the  service  legal,  Moses  placed  the  ring 
upon  Rachel's  finger,  with  no  priestly  intervention. 

Thus  two  of  the  most  noted  families  of  that 
locality  were  brought  together.  The  founder  of 
each  came  in  the  Winthrop  immigration,  being 
of  that  stock  which  gave  to  New  England  its 
grandest  characteristics. 

The  ring  consisted  of  a  modest  jewel  in  a  set- 
ting of  gold.  It  was  a  simple  thing  ;  but  it  meant 
much  to  her  as  she  received  it  from  the  soldier, 
wounded  in  the  struggle  for  liberty.     In  fact,  it 


CUPID'S  HEIRLOOM  211 

spoke  to  her  of  his  blood,  poured  out  on  the  field 
of  battle.  It  has  ever  since  been  a  talisman  to 
the  generations  that  have  succeeded  this  happy 
couple.  To  Moses  and  Rachel,  thus  happily 
united,  there  were  born  Solomon,  Lucy,  Moses, 
Elijah,  Rachel,  Joel,  and  Nathan,  —  six  of  whom 
are  represented  in  most  useful  lives  to-day.  But 
to  the  namesake  of  the  mother  it  was  early  de- 
cided that  the  wedding-ring  should  descend,  and 
that  it  should  be  delivered  on  the  day  of  her 
marriage. 

Although  the  mother  ceased  to  wear  the  ring 
two  years  before  the  marriage  of  the  daughter, 
yet  on  Feb.  i8,  1819,  Rachel  second,  in  appearing 
at  the  marriage  altar,  wore  the  envied  ring  that 
had  glistened  in  her  youthful  eyes  as  she  twirled 
it  on  the  finger  of  her  mother,  while  she  listened 
to  its  story  from  her  whose  fondling  embrace  was 
not  forgotten. 

Through  the  years  of  this  second  family  posses- 
sion the  sacred  obligation  of  the  ring  was  kept  in 
mind.  That  it  was  the  birthright  of  the  Rachel 
was  a  family  truth.  None  but  boys  looked  upon 
the  precious  link  of  family  connection,  as  by  their 
mother,  Rachel,  they  were  taught  to  revere  the 
memory  of  those  through  whose  marriage  the 
sacred  link  had  been  welded.  A  niece  had  now 
appeared,  who  bore  the  name  for  the  third  genera- 
tion ;  and  on  March  26,  1868,  the  golden  band  with 
its  glistening  jewel  was  duly  transferred.      The 


212  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

difficulty  of  carrying  out  to  the  letter  the  early 
pledge  was  here  again  met ;  for  Rachel  third  had 
not  responded  to  Cupid's  darts,  when  the  second 
proud  owner  could  wear  the  ring  no  longer. 

Upon  the  finger  of  a  skilful  dressmaker  the  tal- 
isman was  now  seen  for  many  years,  as  she  plied 
the  needle  in  the  wealthiest  families  of  Boston. 

Though  deaf  to  all  lovers'  whispered  words,  she 
bore  the  name  of  Rachel,  and  claimed  the  prize. 
Again  the  letter  of  the  rule  was  violated,  and  more 
rudely  than  before.  Competition  had  failed  at  the 
baptismal  font,  and  no  generation  of  the  name  of 
her  for  whom  Jacob  served  so  long  now  rose  to 
claim  the  ring. 

It  was  by  Sarah  that  the  ancient  race  was  per- 
petuated, so  the  family  council  decided  that  the 
one  bearing  this  biblical  name  should  be  the 
owner  in  the  fourth  generation. 

Hence,  a  Middlesex  bride  of  1893  wore  to  the 
marriage  altar  the  ring  which  sacredly  links  the 
present  with  the  past,  and  which  gave  not  a  little 
tinge  of  sentiment  to  the  new  relation  entered 
upon  by  one  of  the  favorites  of  modern  society. 

Were  this  all,  it  were  sufficient  to  arouse  feel- 
ings of  envy  in  the  minds  of  others  of  the  family 
circle  ;  but  the  happy  bride  by  this  act  of  mar- 
riage became  the  possessor  of  a  contingent  legacy. 
Rachel  the  third,  whose  skilful  hand  long  bore 
the  precious  heirloom  when  exercised  in  adorning 
the  brides  of  the  palatial  mansions  of  Boston  and 


CUPID'S  HEIRLOOM  213 

vicinity,  studiously  kept  aloof  from  all  matrimonial 
alliances  herself,  but  she  thoughtfully  offered  a 
prize  upon  the  marriage  rite. 

In  her  last  will  and  testament,  probated  in 
September,  1888,  is  the  following  clause:  "To  my 
sister  I  give  and  bequeath  my  Japanese  jewel-case 
and  my  silver  spoons,  and  I  direct  her  to  give  the 
same  to  the  first  of  my  nieces  that  shall  be  mar- 
ried, on  her  wedding  day." 

There  were  six  nieces  who  shared  in  the  accu- 
mulated wealth  of  the  third  Rachel,  either  of 
whom  might  be  the  fortunate  legatee.  There 
was  no  apparent  competitive  struggle  for  the 
jewels,  but  a  stray  quiver  from  Cupid's  bow  was 
the  means  of  the  one  who  had  the  ancient  heir- 
loom becoming  the  rightful  legatee  under  the  will 
of  the  last  Rachel. 

No  woman  of  New  England  descent  has  a  more 
commendable  pass  into  the  Daughters  of  the  Rev- 
olution than  she  who  wears  the  ring  that  was  the 
price  of  the  blood  of  a  Middlesex  hero. 


214  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

CAPTURE    OF    PAUL    REVERE.  THE    MOST    DEADLY 

FIGHT.  —  BURIAL  OF  THE  KING's  SOLDIERS. 
OLD  FAMILIES. NEW  ENGLAND  ANCES- 
TORS   OF    PRESIDENT    JAMES    ABRAM    GARFIELD 

LINCOLN. 

The  people  of  Lincoln  were  more  closely  allied 
with  their  neighbors  in  Concord  than  those  of 
either  town  that  had  formed  parts  of  the  original 
settlement.  Until  within  about  ten  years  of  the 
beginning  of  trouble  with  the  mother  country,  a 
part  of  the  town  had  been  included  in  the  "  six 
miles  square."  They  had  been  recognized  as  a 
separate  municipality  only  about  a  score  of  years 
when  open  hostilities  were  begun.  Her  sons  were 
well  schooled  in  the  art  of  war,  having  done  faith- 
ful service  in  the  interests  of  the  king.  Within 
a  year  of  its  incorporation  Lincoln  was  engaged  in 
active  preparation  for  war;  and  nearly  a  score  of 
the  able-bodied  men  had  their  poll-taxes  in  the 
county  rates  for  the  year  1755  abated,  "they  be- 
ing in  His  Majesty's  service  in  the  defence  of  His 
dominions  in  North  America."  Two  were  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Lake  George,  Sept.  8,  1755,  others 
were  in  the  expedition -to  the  eastward  in  the  dis- 


CAPTURE   OP  PAUL  REVERE  21$ 

charge  of  their  country's  service,  and  through  the 
protracted  troubles  with  the  French  and  Indians 
the  town  was  well  represented. 

The  same  patriotism  that  prompted  these  peo- 
ple to  fight  for  the  king  was  their  impelling 
motive  when  George  III.  turned  his  sceptre 
against  them,  and  their  experience  had  fitted 
them  for  the  hardships  before  them.- 

Early  in  the  business  transactions  of  the  young 
town  stands  the  record  of  March  15,  1770: 
"  Voted,  that  we  will  not  purchase  any  one  article 
of  any  person  that  imports  goods  contrary  to  the 
agreement  of  the  merchants  of  Boston  ; "  and  in 
answer  to  the  circular  letter  of  February,  1773, 
they  make  the  following  record  :  "  We  will  not 
be  wanting  in  our  assistance  according  to  our 
ability,  in  the  prosecuting  of  all  such  lawful  and 
constitutional  measures  as  shall  be  thought  proper 
for  the  continuance  of  all  our  rights,  privileges, 
and  liberties,  both  civil  and  religious  ;  being  of 
opinion  that  a  steady,  united,  persevering  con- 
duct in  a  constitutional  way,  is  the  best  means, 
under  God,  for  obtaining  the  redress  of  all  our 
grievances." 

Among  the  notable  families  of  Lincoln  that  did 
valiant  service  in  the  Revolution,  and  which  are 
yet  represented  in  the  place,  is  the  Farrar  family, 
still  occupying  the  old  estate,  on  which  are  two 
dwellings  that  echoed  the  voices  of  anxious  people 
on  the  19th  of  April,  1775.     Miss  Mary  B.  Farrar, 


2l6 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


my  informant,  with  others  at  the  old  home,  repre- 
sent the  sixth  generation  in  possession.  The 
first  family  dwelling  was  built  by  George  Farrar 
about  1692,  and  hence  has  sheltered  the  family 
almost  two  centuries.  About  the  time  of  setting 
up  his  home  at  this  place,  a  part  of  Concord,  he 
was  urged  to  settle  farther  to  the  interior  of  the 


Farrar  Homestead,  Lincoln 


country,  and  was  offered  one-half  the  present 
township  of  Southborough  for  two  cents  per  acre, 
and  went  to  see  it ;  but  on  his  return  said  it  was 
so  far  in  the  wilderness  it  would  never  be  in- 
habited. This  pioneer,  who  lived  until  1760,  and 
his  wife  one  year  longer,  was  succeeded  by  a  son, 
Samuel,  who  was  born  in  1708.  Through  his  mar- 
riage with  Lydia  Barrett  of  Concord,  the  family 


CAPTURE   OF  PAUL   REVERE  21/ 

became  joined  with  one  of  historical  interest.  He 
lived  to  see  the  promise  of  liberty  well-nigh  veri- 
fied, when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  and  name- 
sake, Samuel,  who  was  born  in  1737,  and  whose 
marriage  with  Mary  Hoar  in  1772  made  the  in- 
terests of  these  towns  more  intimate.  He  was 
distinguished  in  the  Revolution,  and  ever  since 
appears  in  the  records  as  "  Captain."  He  attained 
the  age  of  ninety-two  years,  dying  in  1829.  The 
family  succession  was  continued  by  James,  son  of 
Captain  and  Deacon  Samuel,  who  began  life  at 
this  old  home  in  the  year  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  for  which  his  father  nobly  fought. 

The  marriage  of  James  Farrar,  first  with  Nancy 
Barrett,  and  later  with  Mary  Fiske  Hoar,  contin- 
ued and  strengthened  interesting  family  history. 

The  second  James,  born  in  1820,  kept  the 
record  unbroken,  and  aided  in  maintaining  the 
family  integrity.  He  married  Adeline  Hyde  in 
1845  ;  and  their  children  occupy  the  old  dwelling, 
which  they  sincerely  cherish,  as  does  another 
branch  of  the  family,  occupying  another  dwelling 
of  much  historical  interest.  Judge  Timothy 
Farrar,  who  died  in  1847,  aged  one  hundred  and 
one  years  and  seven  months,  said  of  his  birthplace, 
when  asked  as  to  its  age  on  his  centennial,  "  You 
must  ask  some  one  older  than  I ;  it  was  an  old 
house  as  long  as  I  can  remember." 

Samuel  Farrar,  with  his  wife,  Lydia  Barrett, 
both   advanced  in  years,  and  their  son,  Samuel, 


2l8  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

with  Mary  Hoar,  his  wife,  were  all  living  on 
the  old  homestead  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  home  was  but  a  short  distance  from 
the  village  of  Concord,  and  the  reader  can  imagine 
that  whatever  affected  the  people  of  the  mother 
town  touched  the  vital  interests  of  these. families 
in  Lincoln. 

The  geographical  situation  of  Lincoln  favored 
a  strong  alliance  with  Concord.  The  main  road 
from  Charlestown,  through  Lexington  to  Con- 
cord and  Groton,  passed  through  the  northerly 
part  of  Lincoln ;  hence  the  travel  between  the 
lower  towns  and  those  of  importance  in  Middlesex 
county,  farther  inland,  was  naturally  through  Lin- 
coln. Soldiers  from  Gage's  army  had  been  fre- 
quently seen  passing  up  and  down  this  road ;  and 
if  an  invasion  was  made,  it  was  expected  to  be 
over  this  direct  route.  In  the  north-easterly  part 
of  the  town,  near  Lexington  line,  and  not  far 
from  Bedford,  dwelt  Mr.  Josiah  Nelson,  an  ardent 
patriot,  with  whom  arrangements  were  made  to 
extend  an  alarm  in  case  of  danger.  Nelson  was 
awakened  in  the  night  of  the  i8th  of  April  by 
the  noise  of  horsemen  passing  up  the  road.  He 
rushed  out  half-dressed  to  ascertain  the  cause  of 
the  passing,  and  instead  of  information  was  given 
a  blow  with  a  sword,  gashing  his  head,  and  was 
told  that  he  was  a  prisoner.  He  was  immediately 
surrounded  by  a  party  of  British  scouts  and  To- 
ries, who  acted  as  guides ;  after  detaining  him  a 


CAPTURE   OF  PAUL  REVEPE  2Xg 

while  the  scouts  left  him  in  charge  of  the  Tories, 
who  knew  him  well  as  an  honored  citizen,  and  they 
soon  released  him,  with  an  order  to  go  into  his 
house  and  extinguish  the  light.  They  threatened 
to  burn  his  house  over  his  head  if  he  gave  any 
alarm,  or  showed  any  light.  But  this  did  not  cause 
the  patriot  to  shrink  from  duty.  After  dressing 
himself  and  his  wound,  he  started  to  keep  his 
promise  to  the  Bedford  neighbors,  a  little  north 
of  his  home.  This  alarm,  sounded  in  the  extreme 
south  part  of  Bedford  by  Nelson,  explains  the 
readiness  with  which  the  minute-men  and  militia 
of  that  part  of  Bedford  reported  at  Jeremiah 
Fitch's  tavern  in  Bedford  Centre  when  the  alarm 
from  Lexington  was  first  given  in  the  opposite 
part  of  the  town. 

It  was  not  far  from  Nelson's  home  that  Paul 
Revere,  on  his  midnight  ride,  was  captured,  and 
thus  prevented  from  going  to  Concord,  as  the 
poet  describes  him,  unless  it  was  by  proxy. 

"  It  was  two  by  the  village  clock 
When  he  came  to  the  bridge  in  Concord  town. 
He  heard  the  bleating  of  the  flock, 
And  the  twitter  of  birds  among  the  trees, 
And  felt  the  breath  of  the  morning  breeze 
Blowing  over  the  meadows  brown." 

(The  town  of  Lincoln  lias  taken  action  towards  the  erection  of  a  monu- 
ment where  Revere  was  captured.) 

Captain  William  Smith  of  the  minute-men  lived 
on   this   road,  and  to   him   the  alarm   must   have 


220  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

come  at  a  very  early  hour.  He  mounted  his 
horse,  and  made  haste  to  spread  the  alarm,  and 
then  pushed  on  to  Concord,  reaching  there  with 
a  part  of  his  company  about  seven  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  He  was  directed  by  a  field-officer  to 
parade  his  men  on  the  hill,  which  he  did,  leaving 
his  horse  at  the  tavern.  The  horse  was  later  ap- 
propriated by  the  enemy  to  carry  away  one  of 
their  wounded.  When  the  British  were  in  pos- 
session of  North  Bridge,  Captain  Smith  offered, 
with  his  company,  to  endeavor  to  dislodge  them. 

Leaving  Captain  Smith  and  such  of  his  com- 
pany as  received  the  alarm  in  time  to  join  him  in 
the  morning  at  Concord,  I  will  now  invite  the 
reader  to  join  me  in  listening  to  the  story  of  Mrs. 
Samuel  Hartwell  as  told  by  her  grandson,  who  had 
it  repeatedly  from  her  lips.  Says  Mr.  Hartwell, 
"It  was  my  good  fortune  to  have  a  grandmother 
live  in  the  full  possession  of  her  faculties  until  she 
attained  almost  a  century  of  life.  The  happiest 
days  of  my  youth  were  those  spent  at  her  fireside, 
listening  to  her  experiences  on  the  day  long  to  be 
remembered.  She  said  :  '  Your  grandfather,  who 
was  sergeant,  left  the  house,  joining  the  neighbors 
as  soon  as  the  alarm  reached  us.  I  did  up  the 
chores  at  the  barn,  and  cared  for  the  children  as 
well  as  I  could  in  my  anxiety.  When  thus  occu- 
pied, a  colored  woman  who  lived  near  us  came  in 
to  spread  the  news  of  the  approach  of  the  British, 
but  was  afraid  to  go  farther;  so  I  said,  "  If  you  will 


^'-'^     '        JH^Hl 

<^  p 

Wf      *'■'■  & 

^^ii 

Kgl^^j^^^^l^  ^S^^^^^^^^H 

^^^^B^^^JiHilH 

^^^M^^^^^j^             ^1 

^^^^Q^^ol^M'     1 

^^^HHBHH|    fl 

PpBKpl 

^^^^^^PRi  1 

THE  MOST  DEADLY  FIGHT  221 

take  care  of  my  baby,  I  will  go  and  give  the  warn- 
ing." I  started  for  a  neighbor's  house,  glancing 
down  the  road,  and  saw  such  a  sight  as  I  can 
never  forget.  The  army  of  the  king  was  coming 
up  in  fine  order,  their  red  coats  were  brilliant,  and 
their  bayonets  glistening  in  the  sunlight  made  a 
fine  appearance ;  but  I  knew  what  all  that  meant, 
and  I  feared  that  I  should  never  see  your  grand- 
father again,  although  I  then  knew  nothing  of 
their  bloody  work  at  Lexington. 

" '  I  saw  an  occasional  horseman  dashing  by, 
going  up  and  down,  but  heard  nothing  more  until 
I  saw  them  coming  back  in  the  afternoon,  all  in 
confusion,  wild  with  rage,  and  loud  with  threats. 
I  knew  there  had  been  trouble,  and  that  it  had 
not  resulted  favorably  for  that  retreating  army. 
I  heard  the  musket-shots  just  below,  by  the  old 
Brooks  Tavern,  and  trembled,  believing  that  our 
folks  were  killed.  Some  of  the  rough,  angry 
soldiers  rushed  up  to  this  house  and  fired  in  ;  but 
fortunately  for  me  and  the  children,  the  shots  went 
into  the  garret,  and  we  were  safe.  How  glad  I 
was  when  they  all  got  by  the  house,  and  your 
grandfather  and  our  neighbors  reached  home 
alive!'" 

The  scenes  that  followed  the  alarm,  when  it 
reached  other  homes  in  the  town,  were  in  some 
respects  like  those  at  the  home  of  Samuel  Hart- 
well.  Says  Mr.  Farrar,  a  grandson  of  Captain 
Samuel  of  the  company  of  militia,  and  the  owner 


211  BENEATIf  OLD  liOOF  TREES 

and  occupant  of  one  of  the  Farrar  dwellings  on 
the  old  homestead,  "  My  grandfather  was  on  his 
way  to  mill  in  the  early  dawn  when  he  heard  of 
the  trouble.  Throwing  his  saddle-bags  containing 
the  grist  over  a  wall,  he  made  haste  to  rally  his 
men,  and  went  on  to  Concord." 

The  people,  here  as  elsewhere,  had  become  so 
alarmed  by  premonitions  of  evil  that  this  morn- 
ing's intelligence  was  enough  to  cause  them  to 
believe  that  neither  life  nor  property  was  safe 
within  the  range  of  the  invading  army.  Says 
Mr.  Farrar,  "The  Concord  families  living  near- 
est to  our  home  fled  this  way  for  safety,  and 
with  my  grandmother  and  others  of  the  family  left 
this  house,  and  took  refuge  in  '  Oaky  Bottom,' 
a  retired  piece  of  forest  land  about  one-half  mile 
in  the  rear  of  the  house,  still  known  by  that  name 
in  our  community.  Grandmother  in  her  haste 
had  sufficient  self-possession  to  think  of  the  cattle 
tied  in  the  barn.  These  she  let  loose,  desiring  to 
save  them  from  the  flames  that  she  expected 
would  be  kindled  by  Gage's  army.  She  took  her 
babe,  Samuel  (the  third),  in  her  arms,  the  large 
family  Bible,  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  a  looking-glass, 
with  what  little  silver  she  had,  and  bade  farewell 
to  the  old  dwelling,  never  expecting  to  gather 
her  family  about  her  again  beneath  that  ancestral 
roof.  Every  little  while  they  would  venture  out 
far  enough  to  look  over  the  hill  to  see  if  the 
soldiers  had  set  the  house  on   fire."     To  appre- 


THE  MOST  DEADLY  FIGHT  223 

ciate  the  situation  of  these  people  and  others,  the 
young  patriot  needs  to  place  himself  in  thought 
back  to  that  April  morning,  having  in  mind  the 


Samuel  Farrar,  "the  babe  Samuel"' 

many  real  threats  and  the  more  unwarranted 
alarms  that  had  emanated  from  the  army  at  Bos- 
ton. "The  babe  Samuel,"  said  Mr.  Farrar, 
"grew  and  became  a  distinguished  man.     He  was 


224  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

one  of  the  trustees  of  Andover  Seminary,  and 
president  of  the  bank  for  many  years."  His 
picture  taken  at  the  age  of  ninety  years'  appears 
on  page  223.  The  silver  and  the  looking-glass, 
for  some  time  hidden  in  a  ditch,  were  safely  re- 
turned to  the  home,  and  were  long  used  in  the 
family.  The  old  Bible  with  its  well-worn  leaves, 
which  long  since  left  the  vellum  covers,  is  kept  in 
a  glass  case  in  the  room  from  which  it  was  so 
hastily  yet  reverently  taken. 

While  all  the  precaution  taken  by  the  Farrar 
family  proved  to  be  unnecessary,  too  much  was 
not  taken  in  the  other  part  of  Lincoln  through 
which  the  enemy  passed  ;  for  at  more  places  than 
the  Hartwell  house,  already  mentioned,  there  were 
left  indelibly  stamped  the  signs  of  the  vengeful 
acts  of  the  enemy. 

The  soldiers  of  the  town  met  one  another  at 
the  scene  of  action  at  Concord ;  and  it  was  one  of 
them,  Eleazer  Brooks,  whose  calmness  in  the  time 
of  danger  prevented  the  determined  patriots  from 
the  rashness  of  attack,  by  saying,  "  It  will  not  do 
for  us  to  begin  the  war."  In  the  most  severe 
contest  of  the  retreat,  the  Lincoln  men  were  in 
their  own  town,  many  of  them  on  their  own  farms, 
where  they  were  familiar  with  every  knoll  and  vale. 
Says  Mr.  William  F.  Wheeler,  "The  retreating 
column  re-entered  the  town  soon  after  noon. 
From  the  foot  of  Hardy's  Hill,  the  first  consider- 
able ascent  on  the  returning  march,  to  the  foot  of 


THE  MOST  DEADLY  FIGHT  225 

the  next  hill,  the  road  is  the  dividing  line  between 
Concord  and  Lincoln.  At  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  tanyard,  the  line  of  the  town  leaves  the 
road  and  turns  northward.  Eastward  from  the 
tanyard  the  road  ascends  a  steep  acclivity,  and 
bends  northward  also.  To  reduce  the  grade  of 
the  hill,  and  get  material  for  the  repairs  of  the 
road,  an  excavation  had  been  made  in  the  brow 
of  the  hill.  Through  this  excavation  the  road 
passed ;  and  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  road  was 
a  dense  forest,  which  afforded  a  covert  for  the  Pro- 
vincials, while  the  curves  of  the  road  exposed  the 
British  to  a  raking  fire  from  front  and  rear.  It  was 
here  that  the  retreat  first  became  a  rout  —  here 
that  the  trained  warriors  of  England's  haughty 
king  first  paled  in  wild  dismay,  and  then  fled  in 
dire  confusion  before  an  impromptu  army  of  en- 
raged and  embattled  farmers."  Hard  fighting  was 
done  on  Lincoln  soil.  Near  the  brow  of  the  hill 
eight  British  soldiers  lost  their  lives.  It  was  here 
that  Captain  Jonathan  Willson  of  Bedford,  Daniel 
Thompson  of  Woburn,  and  Nathaniel  Wyman  of 
Billerica  were  killed.  Two  more  British  soldiers 
lost  their  lives  on  Lincoln  soil. 

Some  of  the  women  of  the  town  were  not  so 
disconcerted  as  to  fail  to  plan  for  the  needs  of  the 
men  who  had  so  hastily  left  their  homes.  Know- 
ing that  the  men  would  probably  pass  down  the 
highway  on  their  return,  these  women  prepared  a 
lunch  of  hasty  pudding  and  milk  at  the  home  of 


226  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

Leonard  Hoar.  "This,"  said  Mrs.  Farrar,  "was 
hastily  served  on  extemporized  tables  of  barrels 
and  boards  by  the  roadside." 

Although  Mrs.  Samuel  Hartwell  had  good  rea- 
son for  entertaining  vindictive  feelings  towards 
the  invading  army,  her  actions  proved  that  her 
better  nature  soon  prevailed.  She  said,  "  I  could 
not  sleep  that  night,  for  I  knew  there  were  British 
soldiers  lying  dead  by  the  roadside  ;  and  when,  on 
the  following  morning,  we  were  somewhat  calmed 
and  rested,  we  gave  attention  to  the  burial  of 
those  whom  their  comrades  had  failed  to  take 
away.  The  men  hitched  the  oxen  to  the  cart,  and 
went  down  below  the  house,  and  gathered  up  the 
dead.  As  they  returned  with  the  team  and  the 
dead  soldiers,  my  thoughts  went  out  for  the  wives, 
parents,  and  children  away  across  the  Atlantic, 
who  would  never  again  see  their  loved  ones  ;  and 
I  left  the  house,  and  taking  my  little  children  by 
the  hand,  I  followed  the  rude  hearse  to  the  grave 
hastily  made  in  the  burial-ground.  I  remember 
how  cruel  it  seemed  to  put  them  into  one  large 
trench  without  any  coffins.  There  was  one  in  a 
brilliant  uniform,  whom  I  supposed  to  have  been 
an  officer.  His  hair  was  tied  up  in  a  cue."  For 
more  than  a  century  this  common  grave  remained 
unmarked,  until  the  people  of  the  town,  consider- 
ing the  events  of  that  day  with  a  forgiving  spirit, 
have  within  a  few  years  erected  a  memorial  stone 
over  the  resting-place  of  the  unknown  dead. 


ANCESTORS  OE  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD      22/ 

Among  the  many  simple  gravestones  in  the  old 
burial-ground  of  this  town  is  one  that  has  stood 
for  more  than  a  century. 
It  marks  the  resting- 
place  of  a  young  soldier 
who  was  with  the  com- 
pany at  Old  North 
Bridge  and  in 
the  later  trials 
of  that  April 
day  of  1775, 
and  who  died 
on  the  15th 
of  the  follow- 
ing August. 
For  a  full  cen- 
tury this  gray 
slab   received 

no  more  notice  than  did  scores  of  others  standing 
there  like  sentinels,  reminding  the  thoughtful  of 
the  brave  yeomen  soldiery  of  Middlesex.  Dying 
childless  and  unmarried,  the  only  family  associa- 
tion at  this  grave  is  that  of  earlier  generations. 

Who  shall  say  it  was  a  mere  accident  that  the 
name  of  Abraham  Garfield  and  the  family  hero- 
ism did  not  perish  when  this  young  patriot's  life 
came  to  an  end  in  the  town  of  Lincoln  ? 

"  There's  a  divinity  that  shapes  our  ends." 


Lincoln  Monument 


The  young  man  Garfield  not  only  had  a  part  in 


22S 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 


that  engagement  which  fixed  the  status  of  the 
colonies  as  that  of  rebellion,  but  he  was  one  of 
eight  men  of  the  town  who  on  the  fourth  day 
succeeding  the  fight  swore  to  an  affidavit  before 
a  magistrate. 


Garfield  Headstone 

Lexington,  April  22,,  1775. 
We,  John  Hoar,  John  Whitehead,  Abraham  Garfield,  Ben- 
jamin Munroe,  Isaac  Parker,  William  Hosmer,  John  Adams, 
Gregory  Stone,  all  of  Lincoln  in  the  County  of  Middlesex, 
Massachusetts  Bay,  all  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  say,  that 
on  Wednesday  last,  we  were  assembled  at  Concord,  in  the 


ANCESTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD      229 

morning  of  said  day,  in  consequence  of  information  received 
that  a  brigade  of  regular  troops  was  on  their  march  to  the 
said  town  of  Concord,  who  had  killed  six  men  at  the  town  of 
Lexington. 

About  an  hour  afterwards  we  saw  them  approaching  to 
the  number,  as  we  apprehended  of  about  1,200,  on  which  we 
retreated  to  a  hill  about  eighty  rods  back,  and  the  said  troops 
then  took  possession  of  the  hill  where  we  were  first  posted. 
Presently  after  this  we  saw  the  troops  moving  toward  the 
North  Bridge,  about  one  mile  from  the  said  Concord  meet- 
ing-house ;  we  then  immediately  went  before  them  and  passed 
the  bridge,  just  before  a  party  of  them,  to  the  number  of 
about  two  hundred,  arrived ;  they  there  left  about  one-half 
of  their  two  hundred  at  the  bridge,  and  proceeded  with  the 
rest  toward  Col.  Barrett's,  about  two  miles  from  the  said 
bridge ;  and  the  troops  that  were  stationed  there,  observing 
our  approach,  marched  back  over  the  bridge  and  then  took 
up  some  of  the  planks ;  we  then  hastened  our  march  toward 
the  bridge,  and  when  we  had  got  near  the  bridge  they  fired 
on  our  men,  first  three  guns,  one  after  the  other,  and  then 
a  considerable  number  more ;  and  then,  and  not  before  (hav- 
ing orders  from  our  commanding  officers  not  to  fire  till  we 
were  fired  upon),  we  fired  upon  the  regulars  and  they 
retreated.  On  their  retreat  through  the  town  of  Lexington 
to  Charlestown,  they  ravaged  and  destroyed  private  prop- 
erty, and  burnt  three  houses,  one  barn,  and  one  shop. 

It  required  the  sublimest  courage  to  place  one's 
signature  to  that  paper,  for  it  was  an  admission 
under  oath  of  having  been  a  leader  in  the  fight. 
It  not  only  admitted,  but  justified,  the  act  of  firing 
on  the  troops  of  the  government.  It  seemed 
almost  equivalent  to  putting  the  executioner's 
noose  around  one's  neck.     But  to  such  men  prin- 


230  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

ciple  was  of  more  importance  than  life.  It  was 
not  only  a  means  adopted  for  vindicating  them- 
selves before  the  government  in  England,  but  it 
was  necessary  that  the  truth  of  that  fight  accom- 
panied by  proofs  that  could  not  be  questioned 
should  be  laid  before  the  people  of  the  colonies, 
in  order  that  they  might  be  roused  to  rebellion 
and  revolution. 

The  patriots  of  1775  not  only  did  the  deed,  but 
shouldered  the  responsibility. 

Real  history  has  the  glow  of  romance  when  one 
pauses  to  consider  that  one  of  the  signers  with 
Abraham  Garfield  was  John  Hoar,  who  became 
the  great-grandfather  of  Senator  George  F.  Hoar, 
presiding  officer  of  the  convention  which  nomi- 
nated James  Abram  Garfield  for  the  Presidency. 

Solomon  Garfield,  brother  of  Abraham,  and 
great-grandfather  of  the  twentieth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was,  like  his  brother,  born  in 
Concord,  now  Lincoln,  and  was  fully  imbued  with 
the  spirit  that  actuated  the  men  of  Lincoln,  al- 
though he  had  some  years  earlier  set  up  his  home 
elsewhere.  The  Lexington  alarm  reached  him  at 
his  home  in  another  town,  thirty  miles  away  from 
the  family  seat ;  but  it  met  with  a  patriot's  re- 
sponse, and  he  was  soon  on  the  way  to  the  bloody 
scenes.  Little  more  is  known  of  him,  save  that  he 
came  out  of  the  war  having  been  impoverished  by 
the  loss  of  property,  which  was  the  occasion  of  his 
seeking  a  home  elsewhere.     The  family  moved  to 


ANCESTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD      23  I 

New  York,  where  one  of  their  sons,  Thomas  Gar- 
field, was  married.  It  was  on  the  latter's  farm,  in 
December,  1799,  that  a  son,  Abram  Garfield,  was 
born.  Though  far  away  from  family  scenes,  this 
branch  of  the  family  did  not  fail  to  remember  the 
Lincoln  patriot,  who,  like  Joseph  of  old,  was  sleep- 
ing in  the  sepulchre  of  the  fathers.  The  Garfield 
family  became  united  with  another  of  a  like  spirit, 
—  the  Ballous.  The  marriage  of  the  namesake 
of  the  Lincoln  patriot  with  Eliza  Ballou  resulted 
in  offspring,  the  youngest  of  whom  was  destined, 
not  only  to  bear  the  name  of  the  New  England 
son,  but  to  reanimate  the  scenes  of  the  past. 

The  fabric  of  history  begun  in  Massachusetts 
and  completed  in  Ohio  reveals  some  strong  and 
brilliant  threads  in  the  ancestry  of  the  martyred 
President  of  these  United  States. 

The  Roman  chariot  has  found  its  place  in  liter- 
ature, but  the  New  England  emigrant  wagon  has 
failed  of  enduring  notice.  Yet  the  lives  of  richly 
attired  occupants  of  the  former  cannot  be  com- 
pared with  those  who,  clad  in  the  coarse  garments 
of  their  own  manufacture,  were  jostled  across  the 
country  in  the  latter.  The  emigrant  wagon,  with 
its  jaded  horses,  its  muddy  white  cover,  its  much 
confused  load  of  household  articles,  and  its  sad- 
eyed  and  forlorn  but  determined  occupants,  must 
be  recognized  in  the  combination  of  circumstances 
that  resulted  in  reproducing  a  Massachusetts  pa- 
triot in  the  daughter  State  of  Ohio. 


232  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Said  Senator  George  F.  Hoar:  "To  Lincoln  be- 
longs a  large  share  in  the  fame  of  the  great  sol- 
dier who  cleared  Kentucky  of  rebellion,  and  was 
the  right  arm  of  Thomas  at  Chickamauga.  No 
person  was  more  ready  to  recognize  this  relation 
than  President  Garfield  himself.  Several  times 
in  the  course  of  the  spring  of  1881  he  said  to  me, 
'I  want  you  next  summer  to  take  me  to  Lincoln.' 
I  had  two  letters  from  him  in  the  last  few  days  of 
June,  one  sent  from  the  White  House  at  twelve 
o'clock,  noon,  June  30,  less  than  two  days  before 
he  was  shot,  arranging  to  reach  Concord  on  the 
nth  of  July,  *to  spend,'  as  he  says,  '  a  few  hours 
amid  the  scenes  of  our  national  and  family  his- 
tory ! '  .  .  .  As  you  well  know,  he  was  setting  out 
on  his  journey  when  the  bullet  of  the  assassin 
laid  him  low." 

Thus  it  not  only  appears  that  it  was  the  sons 
of  the  Middlesex  patriots  of  '75  who  so  readily 
responded  at  their  hearthstones  to  the  call  of 
'61,  but  from  new  and  distant  homes  went  out 
those  in  whose  veins  flowed  kindred  blood  to  that 
poured  out  on  the  soil  of  Lexington  and  Concord. 

The  interest  manifested  on  the  19th  of  April 
by  the  Lincoln  people  was  not  abated,  only  as 
distance  from  the  scenes  of  action  prevented  a 
general  participation,  and  time  afforded  prepara- 
tion for  organized  service.  The  town  was  repre- 
sented by  more  or  less  of  its  citizens  during  the 
entire  war,  and  large  numbers  were  found  in  some 


ANCESTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD      233 

campaigns.  Sixty  men  are  credited  with  five  days' 
service  and  forty  miles  of  travel  in  March,  1776, 
being  called  down  for  the  fortifying  of  Dorchester 
Hills.  This  service  was  a  plan  of  General  Wash- 
ington's to  bring  things  about  Boston  to  a  climax, 
and  was  extremely  gratifying  to  all  who  partici- 
pated, as  it  was  soon  followed  by  the  evacuation 
of  the  town,  the  possession  of  it  by  the  Provin- 


Garfield  Homestead,  Lincoln,  Mass. 


cials,  and  the  return  of  many  patriots  to  their 
abandoned  homes.  The  Lincoln  soldiers,  like 
many  others,  took  their  ox-teams  with  them  to 
aid  in  the  work.  "When  in  service  on  the  hills," 
said  Mr.  Farrar,  "  we  were  obliged  to  manage 
our  oxen  in  silence,  depending  upon  the  prick  of 
our  bayonets  to  urge  them  along  rather  than  our 
ordinary  means  of  forcing  them." 

To  one  familiar  with  the  citizens  of  this  town 


234 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 


after  the  lapse  of  a  century  and  a  quarter,  when 
the  events  that  tried  men's  souls  have  become 
subjects  of  tradition  and  history,  it  is  apparent 
that  many  of  the  heroes  of  1775  are  still  rep- 
resented on  the  same  farms  where  the  plough- 
shares were  left  in  the  unfinished  furrows.  A 
notable  instance  is  found  in  the  Hartwell  family. 


Garfield  Footstone 


Samuel  Hartwell,  already  mentioned,  was  not 
only  in  service  on  the  19th  of  April,  but  was  a 
quartermaster  at  White  Plains,  N.Y.,  in  1776, 
in  service  at  Cambridge  in  1778,  and  at  Rhode 
Island  in  1779  and  1780.  The  same  name  has 
been  prominent  during  all  the  years  since  that 
patriot's  service  ;  and  in   1895  the  name  Samuel 


ANCESTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  GARFIELD      235 

Hartwell  is  borne  by  a  grandson  of  the  hero  of 
'75,  who  is  evincing  the  principles  of  good  citi- 
zenship. Among  the  patriots  of  '75  still  repre- 
sented in  the  town  in  families  of  the  same  name 
are  Baker,  Haynes,  Weston,  Wheeler,  Brooks,  and 
Flint ;  the  last  two  being  descended  from  the 
first  settlers  of  Concord, 


236  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   XIX 

BILLERICA    PATRIOTS.  HILL    HOMESTEAD. PRO- 
VISION  FOR   THE   ARMY. MRS.     ABBOTT's    STORY 

This  town  has  individuality  denied  to  many. 
It  is  the  only  one  of  the  name  on  this  side  the 
Atlantic.  Being  a  very  early  settlement,  the 
people  were  inured  to  hardship. 

The  nearness  of  the  Indians,  and  their  cruelty 
in  various  localities,  kept  these  settlers  in  a  state 
of  anxiety  and  watchful  preparation.  Garrisons 
were  erected  in  various  localities.  They  were 
somewhat  relieved  by  the  labors  of  the  Apostle 
Eliot  with  the  nearest  tribes,  who  in  a  measure 
elevated  them  from  savage  warfare. 

But  the  people  of  Billerica  did  not  escape  the 
ruthless  hand  of  the  red  men.  It  was  in  1695,  at 
midday,  that  they  swept  down  upon  the  northern 
part  of  the  settlement,  and  killed  or  captured  fif- 
teen. Others  perished  at  different  times.  This, 
together  with  the  ordinary  hardship  attending  a 
new  settlement,  prepared  the  people  for  later 
troubles. 

These  pioneers,  like  many  of  New  England, 
were  of  sterling  worth, — 

"That  neither  gave,  nor  wowld  endure,  offence," 


BJLLERICA   PATRIOTS  237 

They  came  to  build  up  a  Christian  community, 
and  laid  their  foundations  broad  and  deep.  Some 
of  the  early  settlers  are  still  represented  there  by 
their  descendants,  who  occupy  the  same  lands.  It 
was  the  same  blood,  heated  in  the  effort  to  pro- 
tect the  log  cabin  from  the  savages,  that,  cours- 
ing in  other  veins,  was  fired  to  action  by  the 
oppressive  measures  of  King  George  III. 

Among  the  first  pulsations  of  civilized  life  in 
this  town  was  that  of  the  location  of  the  Dudley 
Farm,  a  grant  of  one  thousand  acres  to  the 
deput5^  governor  in  1637.  It  was  upon  this  land 
that  the  Hill  and  Farley  families  made  very  early 
settlements;  and  a  greater  portion  of  their  early 
tilled  lands  is  in  the  possession  of  their  descend- 
ants, after  more  than  two  and  a  quarter  centu- 
ries. With  the  former  family  the  surname  has 
not  changed. 

Ralph  Hill,  the  pioneer,  appears  in  the  business 
transactions  of  the  town  in  1654.  His  house  was 
made  a  garrison  in  Philip's  war,  and  around  it 
cluster  the  earliest  actions  of  the  people  in  regard 
to  resistance  to  George  III. 

As  in  other  towns,  the  minister  here  was  an 
acknowledged  leader,  and  Ralph  Hill  was  a  willing 
follower.  To  an  appeal  from  the  Boston  Com- 
mittee, the  town  responded  on  June  6,  '1774,  in 
a  lengthy  statement,  concluding  thus  :  "  That,  as 
it  would  be  an  Indellible  Disgrace  and  a  Violation 
of  the  Sacred  Obligation  we  are  under,  to  God, 


238 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


to  our  Country,  to  ourselves,  and  to  Posterity,  for 
us  tamely  and  Pusillanimously  to  give  up  these 
invaluable  Liberties,  which  our  worthy  Ancestors 
purchased  for  us  at  Such  Vast  Expense  of  Blood 
and  Treasure,  We  are  Determined  to  use  our 
utmost  efforts  to  maintain  them,  and  not  part 
with  them  at  a  Cheaper  Rate  than  they  were  at 
first  Obtained." 


fM 

~ .  '<f     '^^^^^^^^"•'^.it^ 

iHiik 

, -■jWlf It- jC.,^_^ 

^^^■■■■MJ 

HHHiHtatSE^: 1 

Hill  Homestead,  Billerica 


To  these  resolutions  the  name  of  Ralph  Hill  is 
attached  as  one  of  a  committee.  He  was  also  on 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence. 

The  town  not  only  adopted  such  measures  as 
did  other  towns  in  the  Province,  but  in  some 
respects  were  more  positive.  They  say,  "As 
every  method  ought  to  be  pursued  which  may 
tend   to   promote  the  arts  and  manufactures  of 


HILL   HOMESTEAD  239 

the  Country,  especially  that  of  wool,  The  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  town  shall  not  Kill  any  lambs  for 
the  markett  till  after  the  first  Day  of  August  next ; 
and  also  that  no  one  ought  to  sell  any  to  any 
Butcher  or  Petty  Chapman,  at  any  time  whatever." 

"  Voted,  That  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  will, 
on  the  Death  of  a  friend  or  Relative,  Conforrp 
to  the  8th  article  of  the  American  Association, 
and  go  into  no  further  mourning  than  such  as  is 
therein  Recommended,  and  will  entirely  Dis- 
continue the  Giving  of  any  Gloves  whatever  at 
Funerals." 

The  ruthless  treatment  of  a  Billerica  citizen  by 
Gage's  men  in  Boston  (before  explained  in  this 
volume)  had  served  to  so  arouse  the  people  that 
they  were  ready  to  march  at  the  slightest  notice. 
At  the  Ralph  Hill  homestead,  the  facts  are 
gathered. 

"  The  message  probably  reached  the  town  by 
two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th.  It  came 
by  the  way  of  Woburn,  to  the  home  of  the  Ditson 
family,  one  member  of  which  had  been  the  recent 
sufferer  in  Boston.  As  might  be  supposed,  they 
lost  no  time  in  arousing  the  people.  A  possible 
opportunity  was  at  hand  to  avenge  the  insult,  and 
they  made  haste  to  improve  it.  Two,  at  least,  of 
the  family  were  early  on  their  way  to  Concord, 
bent  on  dealing  out  to  Gage's  troops  something 
more  lasting  in  its  effects  than  tar  and  feathers, 
which  they  had  so  liberally  used  on  March  8th." 


240  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

There  were  citizens  of  this  town  who  had  more 
than  mere  local  military  distinction,  such  as  the 
leaders  of  the  minute-men  were  then  enjoying. 

Colonel  Thompson  and  Lieutenant  Stickney 
were  early  in  motion.  Ebenezer  Bridge,  captain 
of  the  minute-men,  was  quick  to  respond.  Mus- 
kets and  accoutrements  were  hastily  made  ready 
and  donned.  There  were  the  alarm-list,  the  train- 
band, and  the  minute-men,  all  gathered  at  the 
Common  for  muster  and  orders,  and  were  soon  off 
towards  Concord.  There  were  veterans  also,  as 
volunteers  in  the  ranks.  They  went  by  the  way 
of  Bedford,  there  falling  in  by  the  "Old  Oak," 
where  Billerica,  Reading,  and  other  soldiers  halted 
near  Fitch's  tavern  with  the  Reading  men,  when 
they  received  added  impulse  and  all  made  haste, 
meeting  the  enemy,  when  on  their  retreat,  at 
Merriam's  Corner. 

"This  was  our  first  shot  at  them,"  said  Mr. 
Hill;  "and  we  lost  no  time  for  the  rest  of  the 
day.     Two  of  our  men  were  wounded." 

"  We  had  met  the  king's  army  in  action,  and 
come  off  victorious,  despite  the  boasts  of  the 
enemy  and  all  Tory  predictions,"  continued  our 
hero. 

The  manner  in  which  the  army  that  began  to 
assemble  at  Cambridge  was  fed,  clothed,  and 
nursed  is  without  parallel.  Each  colony  made 
separate  provision  for  its  troops,  —  enlisting  men, 
establishing  their  pay,  supplying  them  with  pro- 


PROVISIOI\r  FOR    THE  ARAIY  24 1 

visions,  and  appointing  and  commissioning  their 
officers.  Companies  were  going  and  coming  pretty 
much  at  their  own  will.  Indeed,  soldiers  were 
straggling  up  and  down  the  roads.  They  had  no 
uniforms ;  and  their  firearms  were  such  as  they 
chanced  to  possess,  but  which  they  knew  how  to 
handle  to  advantage.  There  could  not  be  other 
than  disorder,  for  there  was  no  authority  vested  in 
any  one  as  commander-in-chief.  General  Ward, 
who  early  responded  from  his  home  at  Shrews- 
bury, did  his  best ;  but  in  a  state  of  desperation, 
he  wrote,  five  days  after  the  battle,  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  :  — 

"  Gentlemen  :  — My  situation  is  such,  that,  if  I  have  not 
enlisting  orders  immediately,  I  shall  be  left  alone.  It  is  im- 
possible to  keep  the  men  here,  except  something  be  done. 
I  therefore  pray  that  the  plan  may  be  completed,  and  handed 
to  me  this  morning,  that  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Congress, 
issue  orders  for  enlisting  men." 

While  this  was  the  state  of  things  without, 
there  was  great  unrest  within,  the  town  of  Boston. 
Gen,eral  Gage,  shut  up  with  his  army,  was  fearful 
that  the  enraged  country  would  sweep  down  upon 
the  town,  and  destroy  him  and  his  army.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  between  General  Gage  and  the 
selectmen,  by  which  people  could  leave  the  be- 
sieged town  ;  but,  when  he  saw  them  going  in 
large  numbers,  he  regretted  the  step,  realizing 
that  the  presence  of  women  and  children  would 


242  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

stay  the  hand  of  the  destroyer  outside.  Gage 
then  began  to  fail  to  keep  his  part  of  the  obliga- 
tion. He  appointed  guards  to  examine  all  trunks, 
boxes,  beds,  and  everything  to  be  carried  out  ; 
and  every  possible  method  for  harassing  the 
patriots  who  preferred  to  leave  was  adopted. 

In  the  meantime,  the  distressed  tone  of  General 
Ward's  letter  was  not  without  its  good  effect. 
In  Massachusetts,  the  Provincial  Congress  assem-. 
bled  at  Concord  resolved  that  an  army  of  thirty 
thousand  was  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the 
country,  and  resolved  to  raise,  as  this  colony's 
proportion,  thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  troops  ; 
and  General  Artemas  Ward  was  appointed  com- 
mander-in-chief. 

The  New  Hampshire  troops  that  had  responded 
to  the  Lexington  alarm  assembled  at  Medford, 
where  the  field-officers  held  a  meeting,  and  advised 
the  men  to  enlist  in  the  service  of  the  Massachu- 
setts colony,  and  recommended  Colonel  John  Stark 
to  take  charge  of  them  until  the  whole  could  be 
ratified  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Connecticut  was  prompt  in  its  action  on  the 
receipt  of  the  alarm,  and  also  in  organizing  its 
army.     They  voted  to  raise  six  thousand  men. 

The  Rhode  Island  Assembly  immediately  voted 
to  raise  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  put  them  in 
command  of  Brigadier-General  Nathaniel  Greene. 
This  was  known  as  '*  the  Rode  Island  Armv." 


PROVISION  FOR    THE   ARMY  243 

Thus  was  gathered  the  "  great  American  army," 
consisting  of  about  sixteen  thousand  men.  Each 
colony  was  providing  for  its  own,  "  the  only  ele- 
ment of  uniformity  being  the  common  purpose 
that  called  them  together." 

General  Ward  did  have  authority  to  command 
the  New  Hampshire  forces  as  well  as  those  of  his 
own  colony. 

Each  colony  was  drawing  its  supplies  from  its 
several  towns,  and  hence  the  patriots  had  both 
duties  at  home  and  in  the  army.  Billerica  was  not 
remiss  in  this  respect.  It  was  there  voted  "  to 
provide  Blanketts  for  those  persons  in  this  town 
that  have  Inlisted  into  the  provincial  service." 
They  also  ordered  members  of  an  old  militia  com- 
pany to  be  "  Ready  on  any  occasion  to  take  their 
part  in  any  Burthen."  A  committee  was  chosen 
to  provide  straw  for  the  army  at  Cambridge,  "  to 
purchase  60  hogsheads  of  salt  and  ten  hogsheads 
of  Molasses,  for  a  new  stock."  This  was  bought 
at  Beverly.  Their  extremity  appears  when  they 
record  the  purchase  of  a  pair  of  shoes,  an  old  coat, 
and  a  pair  of  stockings  for  a  soldier.  One  man 
was  set  to  work  "  to  fix  5  Bayonets ;"  another  to 
make  "  7  Cataridge  Boxes  for  the  minute-men." 
Together  with  such  minute  preparations,  out  of 
their  straitened  circumstances  they  were  ready 
"  to  take  care  of  and  provide  for  the  Donation 
persons  that  come  from  the  towns  of  Boston  and 
Charlestown." 


244  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

It  is  not  strange  that  death  should  step  in  to 
prevent  many  of  these  people  from  ever  returning 
to  their  homes.  In  the  burying-ground  given  by 
Ralph  Hill  to  the  town  of  Billerica  may  be  seen 
a  stone  on  which  is  read  the  following  :  — 

HERE  LIES  YE   BODY  OF  THE   WIDOW 

LYDIA   DYAR  OF   BOSTON,   THE  PLACE  OF   HER  NATIVITY, 

WHERE   SHE   LEFT  A  GOOD   ESTATE 

AND  CAME  INTO  YE  COUNTRY   MAY   22D,    1 775, 

TO   ESCAPE  YE  ABUCE   OF   YE   MINISTERIAL 

TROOPS    SENT   BY   GEORGE   YE   3D 

TO   SUBJECT   NORTH    AMERICA. 

SHE   DIED  JULY   28TH,    1 776,    AGED   80  YEARS. 

"  The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall Jlourish  lahen  they  sleep  in  dtist.''^ 

The  Other  Billerica  homestead  already  referred 
to  is  that  of  the  Jaquith  family.  It  joins  the  Hill 
estate,  and  here  early  and  later  patriots  have  been 
quick  to  respond  to  their  country's  call. 

The  farm  was  purchased  by  George  Farley  in 
1653.  Upon  it  was  erected  a  commodious  and 
substantial  dwelling,  which  was  a  stronghold  in 
Philip's  war,  1676.  The  story  of  this  old  home 
in  times  of  peace  and  war  is  given  by  the  oldest 
living  representative,  Susan  (Jaquith)  Abbott,  now 
venerable  with  the  crown  of  ninety-eight  years. 
Said  this  interesting  woman,  "I  am  of  the  eighth 
generation  of  our  family  born  on  this  estate;  and 
as  there  are  two  more  in  which  I  take  pleasure 


MRS.    ABBOTT'S   STORY 


245 


here,  it  appears  that  ten  generations  of  our  family 
have  already  enjoyed  the  homestead. 

"  It  was  my  grandfather,  Joseph  Jaquith,  who 
joined  the  patriots  on  the  arrival  of  the  message 


Susan  (Jaquith)  Abbott 


from  Lexington.  He  was  ploughing  in  'The  Old 
Field '  in  the  rear  of  our  home  when  the  word  of 
danger  reached  him.  He  hastily  unhitched  his 
oxen  from  the  plough,  ran  for  the  house,  took  his 
gun  from  the  wall  over  the  door  in  '  Aunt  Abigail's 


246  BENE  A  TH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

room,'  saying,  *  The  redcoats  are  coming.  He 
was  not  a  member  of  an  organized  company  pre- 
vious to  the  alarm,  but  started  off  as  many  others 
did  at  the  call  of  need.  When  he  returned  with 
other  Billerica  soldiers,  there  was  but  little  mili- 
tary precision  ;  their  guns  were  slung  over  their 
shoulders  in  an  easy-going  manner." 

This  patriot  and  many  others  are  buried  in  the 
South  Burying-Ground,  near  the  grave  of  the  Bos- 
ton lady  who  fled  to  this  town  for  safety. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Rev- 
okition  began  its  work,  the  Jaquith  sepulchre  has  received 
patriotic  attention  by  one  of  the  number,  Charles  E.  Abbott, 
who  has  honored  his  own  name  in  honoring  the  memory  of 
a  worthy  ancestor  and  patriot  of  Billerica. 

The  patriots  of  this  town  were  in  service  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  in  the  redoubt  under  Pres- 
cott.  Its  captain  of  the  19th  of  April  had  been 
made  a  colonel,  and  Lieutenant  Jonathan  Stickney 
was  in  command.  The  Billerica  men  did  not  suf- 
fer as  much  as  many ;  but  the  first  soldier  killed  in 
that  battle  was  Asa  Pollard,^  who  was  buried  on 
the  field.  His  name,  and  also  that  of  Samuel 
Hill,  who  was  killed,  appear  on  the  memorial 
tablets  at  Charlestown.  Others  perished  as  a 
result  of  that  day's  battle. 

1  The  Pollard  school  at  Billerica  is  a  fitting  memorial  of  its  citi- 
zen who  gave  up  his  life  at  Bunker  Hill. 


THE  STORY  OF  MRNOTOMV  247 


CHAPTER   XX 

THE  STORY  OF  MENOTOMY.  THE  RUSSELL  FAMILY 

STORE.  — STORY    OF     WHITTEMORE    FAMILY.  

CAMBRIDGE. 

MENOTOMY. 

"  In  the  village  of  Menotomy,  as  in  no  other 
place  on  that  April  day,  the  footprints  of  the  pa- 
triots were  indelibly  stamped  in  their  own  blood 
and  that  of  their  enemy,"  said  Mrs.  Sophronia 
Russell  in  1894,  when  in  her  eighty-eighth  year 
she  reviewed  the  sad  experiences  of  her  own 
family  and  that  of  the  Russells,  with  their  neigh- 
bors. 

This  may  be  attributed  to  the  location  and  the 
hour  of  the  day.  It  was  in  the  direct  line  of 
march  of  the  enemy,  and  sufficient  time  had 
elapsed  for  the  towns  at  a  distance  to  respond 
to  the  early  alarm.  The  various  routes  taken 
converged  at  this  village. 

Through  the  main  road  Gage's  troops,  in  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith,  made  their 
stealthy  midnight  march  ;  and  over  the  same  route 
they  fought  their  way  through  a  sheet  of  fire 
back  to  the  protection  of  their  ships  of  war. 

The  outward   march,  intended  to  be  silent,  is 


248 


BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


remembered  in  Menotomy  by  only  a  few  trifling 
incidents.  Three  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and 
Supplies,  before  alluded  to,  viz.,  Elbridge  Gerry 
and  Colonels  Orne  and  Lee,^  had  stopped  for  the 
night  at  Black  Horse  Tavern.  They  were  aroused 
soon  after  midnight  to  see  the  highway  filled  with 
British  regfulars.     When  the  centre  of  the  column 


Russell  House,  Menotomy 


reached  the  tavern,  the  light  of  the  moon  revealed 
the  sly  movements  of  an  officer  and  file  of  soldiers 
coming  towards  the  house.  The  trio  of  anxious 
guests  understood  that  movement ;  and,  although 
half-dressed,  they  made  their  escape  through  a 
rear  door,  and   sought   the    shelter  of   the    corn 

1  Lee  took  cold  from  the  exposure  of  that  night,  and  died  on 
May  lo  following.     He  was  buried  at  Marblehead. 


THE  STORY  OF  MENOTOMY 


249 


Stubble  of  the  previous  harvest.  Having  searched 
the  house  in  vain  for  the  coveted  rebels,  the  soldiers 
went  out  and  joined  their  comrades  on  the  march 
into  the  country. 

The  centre  of  Menotomy  being  away  from  the 
line  of  Revere's  midnight  ride,  there  was  but  little 
stir  among  the  people  when  the  regulars  passed 


Russell  Store,  Menotomy 

out ;  but  it  was  not  long  before  they  were  aware 
of  the  march. 

Lieutenant  Smith,  of  Captain  Locke's  company, 
upon  going  to  his  door  was  asked  by  a  soldier  for 
a  drink  of  water.  This  he  refused,  asking  in  turn, 
"  Why  are  you  out  at  this  time  of  night }  "  This 
and  other  similar  incidents  were  enough  to  set  an 
expectant  people  in  action. 


250  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

Among  the  buildings  standing  and  presenting 
much  of  the  same  appearance  as  in  1775  are  the 
Russell  dwelling  and  store ;  and  no  family  is  more 
favorably  situated  for  retaining  the  account  of 
those  trying  scenes  than  the  Russell  family.  At 
the  old  home  and  store  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  gather  the  story  of  Menotomy  from  the  lips  of 
those  who  had  it  from  their  grandparents,  who 
participated  in  the  bloody  work  of  April  19,  1775. 

The  name  of  Russell  appears  in  the  list  of  the 
first  settlers  of  that  part  of  Cambridge  known 
in  the  Revolution  as  Menotomy  ;  incorporated  in 
1807  as  West  Cambridge,  and  later  changed  in 
name  to  Arlington. 

In  1732  William  Russell  headed  a  petition  for 
better  accommodations  for  the  settlers  in  the 
north-west  part  of  Cambridge. 

In  1762  the  name  is  prominent  among  those 
who  secured  the  forming  of  a  new  parish  by  the 
name  of  Menotomy.  It  was  named  after  the 
Indian  river  that  flowed  from  Spy  Pond  brook 
into  the  Mystic. 

The  first  to  establish  the  store  in  Menotomy 
was  Thomas,  son  of  Jason,  who  was  born  in  1751, 
in  the  old  Russell  house. 

Jason,  the  father,  was  of  the  third  generation 
from  William  the  immigrant.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Winship  in  1740,  and  set  up  a  home  in  the 
Russell  dwelling.  That  he  was  a  man  of  promi- 
nence, and  had  negro  slaves,  is  apparent  from  the 


THE   RUSSELL   FAMILY  STORE  2$ I 

records  of  the  church,  which  say  that  Kate,  his 
negro  child,  was  baptized  on  March  17,  1754,  at 
three  months  of  age. 

Thomas  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children. 
He  set  up  business  for  himself  at  the  Russell 
store  in  1773,  married  Anna  Whittemore  in  the 
following  year,  and  was  well  established  as  the 
only  merchant  of  that  village  at  the  opening  of 
the  Revolution.  He  left  his  home  and  merchan- 
dise to  shoulder  the  "  king's  arm,"  and  serve  as  a 
friend  of  the  colonial  cause.  Says  Thomas  H. 
Russell  of  the  fourth  generation  of  the  merchants 
of  the  family,  "  On  returning  to  this  place  of  busi- 
ness, my  great-grandfather,  Thomas,  found  that 
the  British  soldiers  had  entered  the  store,  helped 
themselves  to  what  they  wanted,  destroyed  much, 
and  after  drinking  all  the  rum  they  could,  had  left 
the  taps  open,  expecting  to  thereby  empty  the 
hogsheads  ;  but  a  member  of  the  family  was 
watching  the  enemy,  and  foiled  the  plan  of  de- 
struction. But,"  continued  Mr.  Russell,  "  the 
damage  to  this  store  and  the  loss  of  merchandise 
were  as  nothing  when  the  trials  of  that  day  were 
summed  up  in  the  village,  and  especially  in  our 
family."  Menotomy,  like  many  other  towns,  had 
the  good  fortune  of  being  led  by  a  patriotic  min- 
ister. Rev.  Samuel  Cook  was  fearless  in  de- 
nouncing the  tyranny  of  the  king,  and  ready  to 
espouse  the  cause  of  the  Province  whenever  oppor- 
tunity presented  itself. 


252  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Benjamin  Locke  and  his  company  of  minute- 
men  were  early  to  respond  to  the  alarm.  They 
assembled  on  the  green  by  the  meeting-house, 
and  marched  on  to  the  aid  of  those  who  had 
charge  of  the  stores  at  Concord.  The  women 
and  children  were  sent  away  to  places  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  Concord  road.  Many  people  hid 
their  silver  and  other  valuables,  expecting  that  the 
army  when  returning  would  be  given  over  to  mur- 
der and  plunder.^ 

"  The  morning  wore  away  quietly  enough. 
Towards  noon  the  road  was  again  glittering  Avith 
British  bayonets.  Smith's  appeal  for  aid  had  been 
answered.  Lord  Percy  was  sent  at  the  head  of 
three  regiments  of  infantry  and  two  divisions  of 
marines  —  in  all  about  twelve  hundred  men  — 
to  re-enforce  the  first  detachment.  Marching  out 
through  Roxbury,  he  was  delayed  for  a  little  while 
at  Brighton  Bridge,  until  the  planks  which  had 
been  taken  up  could  be  replaced.  Then  he  kept 
on  through  Cambridge  and  Menotomy  without 
further  hindrance." 

The  wagons  of  supplies  and  provisions  which 
followed  met  with  great  difficulty  in  crossing 
the  bridge,  and  were  delayed  so  that  they  were 
obliged  to  make  their  course  unattended  by  the 
army.  The  news  of  their  approach  preceded 
them  to  Menotomy  ;  and  the  old  men,  "exempts," 

1  A  silver  cup  was  recovered  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  and 
is  now  treasured  among  the  parish  valuables. 


"At  this  Spot,  April  19TH,  1775,  the  Oi.n  Men 
OF  Menotomv  Captured  a  Convoy  of  Eighteen 
Soldiers  with  Supplies,  on  its  Way  to  join  the 
British  at  Lexington."    Page  253 


THE  RUSSELL  FAMILY  STORE  253 

determined  to  capture  them,  and  thus  aid  the 
cause  for  which  they  were  not  able  to  shoulder 
the  musket  and  march.  About  a  dozen  of  them 
met  at  Cooper's  Tavern.  If  they  were  not  led 
by  a  minister,  there  was  one  in  their  number. 
Rev.  Phillips  Payson  of  Chelsea,  who  was  foremost 
in  this  bold  act.  They  secreted  themselves  be- 
hind a  breastwork  of  earth  and  stones  opposite 
the  meeting-house,  and  when  the  wagons  arrived 
they  ordered  a  halt  and  surrender.  The  drivers 
whipped  up  their  horses,  but  it  was  of  no  use. 
The  old  men  fired,  killing  some  of  the  horses,  one 
or  two  men,  and  wounding  others.  The  drivers 
and  remaining  soldiers  fled,  leaving  the  supplies 
with  the  people  of  Menotomy.  This  was  a  bold 
act,  perpetrated  by  the  "exempts"  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  affair  at  Lexington  or  Concord. 
They  had  fired  at  the  king's  army  on  the  king's 
highway,  without  regard  for  the  oft-repeated  in- 
junction, "  Let  them  begin  the  war."  The  little 
group  of  invalids  had  a  task  before  them,  — they 
must  remove  the  wagons  and  everything  that 
would  betray  them  to  the  returning  enemy.  Says 
Mrs.  Sophronia  Russell,  "  When  I  was  a  child  I 
went  with  my  father  down  to  Spring  Valley,  near 
where  now  is  the  residence  of  J.  T.  Trowbridge, 
and  saw  the  bones  of  the  horses  as  they  lay 
bleaching  in  the  sun." 

All  traces  of  the  convoy  of  supplies  were  out 
of  sight  when  the  regulars  returned,  and  the  men 


254  BENEATH  OLD  ROOE  TREES 

of  Menotomy  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
they  had  captured  the  first  supplies  during  the 
war.  They  never  ceased  telling  this  story  as  long 
as  they  were  able  to  meet  at  Russell's  store,  where 
the  more  sorrowful  experiences  of  the  day  were 
often  repeated  by  some  member  of  the  family 
which  met  with  the  greatest  loss.  Said  Thomas 
Russell,  "  My  grandfather,  who  was  a  non-com- 
batant, would  not  go  away  for  refuge  as  others 
were  doing.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  citizens 
of  the  village,  being  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  and 
in  possession  of  a  large  tract  of  real  estate.  He 
was  lame,  and  had  difficulty  in  getting  about,  so 
he  decided  to  stay  at  his  own  house,  which  stood 
near  the  highway.  When  friends  urged  him  to 
leave  it,  he  replied,  '  An  Englishman's  house  is 
his  castle,'  and  he  decided  to  stand  his  ground. 
Meanwhile  a  number  of  Americans,  mostly  from 
Danvers,  had  taken  up  a  position  in  the  rear  of 
his  house,  and  within  a  walled  enclosure,  which 
they  strengthened  by  piling  up  bundles  of  shin- 
gles. There  were  other  men  behind  trees  on  the 
side  of  the  hill. 

"When  the  retreating  enemy  reached  the  plains 
of  Menotomy  they  were  better  situated  to  do  their 
deadly  work,  for  the  Americans  were  less  pro- 
tected by  heights  on  either  side.  Our  people  were 
well  arranged  to  meet  the  enemy  if  they  came  in 
the  highway ;  but  they  did  not  anticipate  a  flanking 
guard,  which  came  suddenly  upon  their  ambuscade, 


THE  RUSSELL   FAMILY  STORE  255 

and,  after  a  moment  of  most  savage  fighting,  drove 
our  men  in  the  enclosure  down  towards  the  road, 
where  their  complete  destruction  seemed  inevi- 
table, as  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  was  before 
them.  Closely  pursued,  they  entered  our  house. 
Grandfather  was  shot  at  his  own  door,  and  then  his 
body  was  stabbed  through  and  through  with  the 
bayonets  of  the  infuriated  enemy  as  they  rushed 
in,  killing  everybody  they  could  reach.  Eight 
Americans  escaped  to  the  cellar,  where  they  pro- 
tected themselves  by  firing  up  the  stairway.  One 
of  the  enemy  was  killed  in  attempting  to  continue 
his  pursuit  to  the  cellar ;  but  after  plundering  the 
house,  the  rest  left,  and  went  on  their  way.  Our 
house,"  said  Mr.  Russell,  "  was  a  sad  place  that 
night.  In  the  south  room  were  laid  the  bodies  of 
twelve  of  the  dead,  grandfather  among  them,  bear- 
ing the  marks  of  two  bullet  wounds  and  eleven 
bayonet  stabs.  They  had  seemed  to  vent  their 
rage  upon  him.  The  Americans  had  observed 
little  or  no  order  in  the  fighting  of  the  morning; 
and  now  the  enemy,  finding  themselves  con- 
fronted by  fresh  troops  from  either  side  as  they 
advanced,  observed  but  little  military  order. 
They  plundered  houses,  besides  our  store ;  en- 
tered the  meeting-house  ;  carried  away  the  com- 
munion service  from  the  house  of  Deacon  Joseph 
Adams  ;  damaged  the  home  of  the  minister,  and 
so  on,  to  Cooper's  Tavern,  which  had  not  been  en- 
tirely abandoned.     They  burst  open  the  door,  and 


256  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

there  lound  two  of  the  old  men,  who  were  un- 
armed, and  had  only  come  up  to  the  tavern  to 
get  a  mug  of  flip  and  the  news.  Neither  age 
nor  helplessness  deterred  the  infuriated  mob  ;  for 
Gage's  army  was  little  else  at  that  time. 

"  The  old  men  were  at  once  despatched  with 
blows  and  bayonet  thrusts ;  but  the  keeper  and 
his  wife,  Benjamin  and  Rachel  Cooper,  having  es- 
caped to  the  cellar,  were  passed  unharmed.  The 
sworn  testimony  of  the  tavern-keeper  and  his  wife 
is  :  *  The  king's  regular  troops,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Gage,  upon  their  return  from 
blood  and  slaughter  which  they  had  made  at  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,  fired  more  than  one  hundred 
bullets  into  the  house  where  we  dwell,  through 
doors,  windows,  etc.  ;  then  a  number  of  them  en- 
tered the  house  where  we  and  two  aged  gentlemen 
were  all  unarmed.  We  escaped  for  our  lives  into 
the  cellar.  The  two  aged  gentlemen  were  imme- 
diately most  barbarously  and  inhumanly  murdered 
by  them,  being  stabbed  through  in  many  places, 
their  heads  mangled,  skulls  broke,  and  their  brains 
out  on  the  floor  and  walls  of  the  house.' 

"  Not  less  than  twenty-two  Americans  were 
killed  on  that  April  afternoon  in  Menotomy, 
and  fully  twice  as  many  of  the  enemy  perished. 
Two  of  our  men  were  taken  prisoners  ;  one,  Seth 
Russell,  was  a  member  of  our  family.  They  re- 
mained in  captivity  until  the  exchange  of  June 
6  was  made  at  Charlestown."     Many  of  the  dead 


THE   RUSSELL   FAMILY  STORE  257 

were  carried  back  to  their  own  towns  ;  but  twelve 
of  them,  including  the  three  Menotomy  men,  were 
buried  here.  So  urgent  were  their  country's  needs, 
that  the  village  people  had  no  time  for  funeral 
rites  ;  and  the  carpenter  was  too  busy  to  make  the 
coffins,  so  these  martyrs  were  committed  to  a 
common  grave  with  their  clothes  for  shrouds. 

Above  this  grave  was  afterwards  placed  a  single 
slate  gravestone.  This  now  stands  beside  a  monu- 
ment of  more  recent  erection,  on  which  is  read:  — 

MR.   JASON   RUSSELL 

WAS   BARBAROUSLY   MURDERED   IN   HIS  OWN   HOUSE 

BY   gage's   bloody   TROOPS 

ON   YE    I9TH   OF   APRIL,    1 77$,    iETAT,    59. 

HIS    BODY    IS    QUIETLY    RESTING    IN    THIS    GRAVE    WITH 

ELEVEN   OF  OUR  FRIENDS,   WHO   IN    LIKE   MANNER, 

WITH   MANY   OTHERS,    WERE   CRUELLY   SLAIN 

ON   THAT  FATAL  DAY. 

"BLESSED   ARE   YE   DEAD  WHO  DIE   IN   YE   LORD.'" 

Dr.  Warren  and  General  Heath  were  active  on 
the  plains  of  Menotomy,  directing  and  encoura- 
ging the  Americans.  "  A  ball  struck  a  pin  from 
the  earlock  of  the  former ;  but  his  life  was  spared 
for  another  bloody  conflict,  when  it  was  yielded 
up  in  the  cause  of  freedom." 

From  a  poem  printed  in  Boston  in  1781  the 
following  is  taken  :  — 

"  Again  the  conflict  glows  with  rage  severe, 
And  fearless  ranks  in  combat  mixt  appear. 
Victory  uncertain !  fierce  contention  reigns, 
And  purple  rivers  drench  the  slippery  plains ! 


258  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

Column  to  column,  host  to  host  oppose, 
And  rush  impetuous  on  their  adverse  foes; 
When  lo !  the  hero  Warren  from  afar 
Sought  for  the  battle,  and  the  field  of  war. 
From  rank  to  rank  the  daring  warrior  flies, 
And  bids  the   thunder  of  the  battle  rise. 
Sudden  arrangements   of  his  troops  are  made. 
And  sudden  movements  round  the  plain  displayed. 
Columbia's  Genius  in  her  polished  shield 
Gleams  bright  and  dreadful  o'er  the  hostile  field ! 
Her  ardent  troops,  enraptured  with  the   sight. 
With  shock  resistless  force   the   dubious  fight; 
Britons,  astonished,  tremble  at  the  sight. 
And,  all  confused,  precipitate  their  flight." 

The  scenes  that  have  been  enacted  in  the  store 
would  furnish  material  for  a  thrilling  narrative. 
It  was  there  that  the  distressed  colonists  as- 
sembled to  talk  over  their  grievances,  after  pla- 
cing in  the  grave  a  few  rods  away  the  father 
of  the  proprietor,  his  two  neighbors,  and  nine 
other  comrades  in  death.  The  descendants  of 
Jason  Russell,  who  have  served  in  that  store, 
could  not  look  to  the  southward  from  the  busy 
counter  without  seeing  the  memorial  of  this  brave 
ancestor. 

Turning  to  the  venerable  member  of  the  family 
with  whose  general  remark  this  section  was  "in- 
troduced, I  was  shown  a  Bible  that  belonged  to 
the  widow  of  Jason  Russell.     In  it  is  written  :  — 

"  Purchased  with  money  given  her  by  some  unknown 
friend  in  England,  in  consideration  of  the  loss  of  her  be- 


THE   RUSSELL   FAMILY  STORE 


259 


loved  husband,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  who  was  in- 
humanly murdered  by  the  British  troops  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Thomas  Gage,  to  the  eternal  infamy  of  the  British 
nation." 


Says  Mrs.  Russell,  "  Some  of  the  delights  of 
my  early  life  were  the  visits  to  my  uncle,  Jona- 
than Harrington, 
at  Lexington.  He 
was  the  last  sur- 
vivor of  the  bat- 
tle of  Lexington, 
living  until  1854. 
By  the  open  fire 
he  and  Aunt  Sally 
would  sit  and  tell 
the  story  over  and 
over  again.  He 
would  cry  out  as 
his  mother  did 
when  rushing  to 
his  room,  '  Jona- 
than, you  must  get 

up!     The  regulars  are  coming;  something  must 
be  done!' 

"  Uncle  Jonathan  lived  to  see  the  sentiment 
grow  in  the  country  until  he  was  sought  out  by 
men  from  all  lands,  and  became  a  hero  indeed. 
When  the  veterans  failed  to  come  to  his  door, 
their  descendants  rose  up  to  honor  him. 


Mrs.  SoPHRONiA  Russell 


26o 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 


"  '  The  broken  soldier,   kindly  bade   to  stay, 
Sat  by  his  fire,  and  talk'd  the  night  away. 
Wept  o'er  his  wounds,   or,   tales  of  sorrow  done, 
Shoulder'd  his  crutch,   and  show'd  how  fields  were  won.'  " 

Leaving  the  Russell  home  and  store,  I  turned 
my  steps  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Pamelia  Fisk, 
who  began  life  with  the  opening  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  To  her,  a  native  of  Lexington,  the 
experiences  of  April  19,  1775,  are  as  great  a  re- 
ality as  is  the  fir- 
ing upon  Sumter 
to  the  middle-aged 
man  of  to-day. 
Says  Mrs.  Fisk, 
"  My  two  grand- 
fathers fought  at 
Lexington,  and 
my  grandmothers 
were  eye-witnesses 
to  the  butchery. 
They  told  me  so 
much  of  their  trials 
and  sufferings  at 
that  time  that  I 
have  felt  as  though 
I  was  almost  a  participant  in  the  fight  myself." 
No  sentiment  gilds  the  narrative  as  it  falls  from 
her  lips ;  she  has  it  as  it  was  told  to  her  when  in 
childhood  she  played  on  the  smooth  field  where 
"  they  poured  out   their  blood   like  water  before 


Mrs.  Pamelia  Fisk 


THE  FISK  FAMILY  26 1 

they  knew  whether  it  would  fertilize  the  soil  of 
freedom  or  of  bondage." 

Mrs.  Fisk  is  a  granddaughter  of  Francis  Brown 
and  of  Edmond  Monroe  of  Lexington.  Her  pa- 
ternal grandmother  was  Mary  Buckman,  who  lived 
at  the  old  Buckman  tavern.  So  on  all  sides  she 
inherits  the  blood  of  true  patriots,  and  has  heard 
the  story  from  their  own  lips. 

"  Grandfather  Brown,"  she  says,  "  told  me  this 
story:  'I  was  out  here  near  the  meeting-house 
at  the  very  early  hour  of  two  o'clock,  and  an- 
swered the  roll-call  of  our  company,  and  in  response 
to  the  order  of  Captain  Parker  loaded  my  gun 
with  powder  and  ball.  I  heard  the  discussion  as 
to  the  safety  of  Hancock  and  Adams.  I  went 
back  to  my  home,  and  waited  until  half-past  four 
o'clock,  when  I  heard  the  alarm-guns  and  the 
drum  beat  to  arms,  and  I  was  again  on  the 
green. 

"'The  order  not  to  fire  unless  fired  upon  de- 
terred me  and  all  of  us  from  having  a  shot  at  the 
British  soldiers  as  they  came  up  the  road.  I  parti- 
cipated in  the  early  action  ;  and,  having  cared  for 
our  dead  and  wounded  neighbors,  I  was  in  the 
afternoon  attack,  when  I  was  wounded  by  a  ball, 
which  entered  my  cheek,  passed  under  my  ear, 
and  lodged  in  the  back  of  my  neck,  where  it  re- 
mained nearly  a  year.'  "  Mrs.  Fisk  said,  "I  used 
to  put  my  finger  on  those  scars,  as  he  told  me  just 
how  the  ball  went.     We  needed  no  fairy-tales  in 


262  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

our  youth  ;  the  real  experiences  of  our  own  people 
were  more  fascinating  than  all  the  novels  ever 
written." 

The  Whittemore  home  is  one  of  the  residences 
of  old  Menotomy  which  remains  as  a  reminder 
of  the  day  of  peculiar  trials.  Says  Lewis  Down- 
ing Whittemore,  "  Here  my  ancestors  made  an 
early  settlement,  having  numerous  representatives 
actively  engaged  in  the  opening  Revolution.  The 
home  has  not  been  without  a  representative  of 
the  family  and  name  since  Samuel,  born  in  1696, 
of  the  third  generation  in  this  country,  located 
here.  He  inherited  the  old  homestead,  situated 
nearer  Boston,  and  exchanged  it  for  the  present 
well-known  estate  about  1730.  There  were  two 
dwellings  on  the  farm  in  1775  occupied  by  the 
family;  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  highway  lived 
my  great-great-grandfather,  Samuel  Whittemore, 
and  on  the  opposite  side  his  son  Samuel  was 
living. 

"  Among  those  who  manifested  great  bravery 
and  courage  on  April  19,  1775,  was  Samuel  the 
elder,  then  in  his  eightieth  year. 

The  following  narrative  appeared  in  an  obituary 
notice  of  the  Columbian  Sentijiel  oi  Feb.  6,  1793: 

"  Died  at  Menotomy,  the  2d  instant,  Capt.  Samuel  Whit- 
temore, yEt.  96  years  and  6  months.  The  manly  and  moral 
virtues,  in  all  the  varied  relations  of  a  brother,  husband, 
father,  and  friend,  were  invariably  exhibited  in  this  gentle- 
man.   He  was  not  more  remarkable  for  his  longevity  and  his 


STORY  OF   IVHITTEMORE  FAMILY  263 

numerous  descendants  (his  progeny  being  185,  one  of  which 
is  the  fifth  generation)  than  for  his  patriotism.  When  the 
British  troops  marched  to  Lexington,  he  was  79  years  of 
age,  and  one  of  the  first  on  the  parade ;  he  was  armed  with 
a  gun  and  horse-pistol.  After  an  animated  exhortation  to 
the  collected  militia  to  the  exercise  of  bravery  and  courage, 
he  exclaimed,  '  If  I  can  only  be  the  instrument  of  killing 
one  of  my  country's  foes,  I  shall  die  in  peace.'  The  prayer 
of  this  venerable  old  man  was  heard ;  for  on  the  return  of 
the  troops  he  lay  behind  a  stone  wall,  and  discharging 
his  gun  a  soldier  immediately  fell ;  he  then  discharged 
his  pistol,  and  killed  another;  at  which  instant  a  bullet 
struck  his  face,  shot  away  part  of  his  cheekbone  ;  on  which 
a  number  of  the  soldiers  ran  up  to  the  wall,  and  gorged  their 
malice  on  his  wounded  head.  They  were  heard  to  exclaim, 
'We  have  killed  the  old  rebel.'  About  four  hours  after,  he 
was  found  in  a  mangled  situation ;  liis  head  was  covered 
with  blood  from  the  wounds  of  the  bayonets,  which  were  six 
or  eight ;  but  providentially  none  penetrated  so  far  as  to  de- 
stroy him.  His  hat  and  clothes  were  shot  through  in  many 
places ;  yet  he  survived  to  see  the  complete  overthrow  of  his 
enemies,  and  his  country  enjoy  all  the  blessings  of  peace 
and  independence.  His  funeral  will  be  held  to-morrow  at  4 
o'clock  p.  M.  from  his  house  at  Menotomy,  which  his  rela- 
tives and  friends  are  requested  to  attend." 

Among  the  family  treasures  of  to-day  are  the 
cartridge-box  and  bayonet  used  by  Captain  Sam- 
uel Whittemore,  when  at  the  age  of  almost  four- 
score years  he  responded  to  the  Lexington  alarm. 

"  In  my  great-grandfather's  family,"  said  my 
informant,  "  were  two  sons,  Jonathan  and  Josiah, 
aged  thirteen  and  eleven  years  respectively.  Be- 
ing too  young  to  shoulder  a  musket  if  there  had 


264  BENEATH  OLD   /WOE   TREES 

been  an  extra  one  beneath  the  old  roof,  these  boys 
fled  with  others  from  their  home  upon  the  approach 
of  the  retreating  army,  but  injudiciously  perched 
upon  a  rail  fence  at  a  distance,  with  no  thought 
of  being  detected  ;  but  they  were  seen  by  a  strag- 
gling soldier  from  the  regulars,  who  discharged 
his  musket  at  them.  They  were  uninjured,  but 
so  much  frightened  that  they  instantly  fell  from 
the  fence,  one  exclaiming,  '  I'm  shot.'  They 
made  haste  to  the  forest  beyond,  and,  becoming 
bewildered,  wandered  about  until  they  reached 
Watertown,  where,  on  the  following  morning, 
they  were  taken  in  charge  by  a  friend  of  the  fam- 
ily, who  returned  them  safely  to  their  despairing 
parents."  One  of  them  is  represented  by  a  grand- 
daughter in  the  old  home ;  and  the  other  is  repre- 
sented by  a  grandson,  who,  while  treasuring  the 
military  equipments,  delights  in  telling  this  story. 

CAMBRIDGE, 

(In  tracing  the  movements  of  the  patriots 
through  Cambridge,  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that 
Brighton  was  at  that  time  "  Little  Cambridge," 
and  the  Somerville  of  to-day  is  a  comparatively 
recent  incorporation;  hence  Charlestown  was  the 
adjoining  township.) 

The  setting  sun  of  April  19  saw  Cambridge 
transformed  to  a  theatre  of  war.  For  nearly  a 
year  it  was  given  over  to  the  use  of  the  American 


CAMBRIDGE  265 

army.  Although  it  was  the  assembled  patriots, 
many  of  whom  were  not  far  from  their  own  homes, 
the  town  suffered  by  the  unavoidable  devastations 
of  war.  The  fences,  forest-trees,  fruit-trees,  and 
orchards  for  a  mile  around  the  camp  were  taken 
and  burned  for  fuel  by  friendly  hands  in  a  state 
of  desperation. 

In  early  winter  the  straitened  condition  of 
the  camp  was  relieved  through  an  act  of  the  au- 
thorities, by  which  the  patriots  in  the  neighbor- 
ing towns  were  required  to  deliver  at  camp  a 
specified  number  of  cords  of  wood  per  day.  The 
records  of  the  different  towns  attest  to  the  cheer- 
ful manner  in  which  their  people  met  the  demand. 
Roxbury,  Dedham,  Milton,  and  Dorchester  de- 
livered three  cords  per  day  to  the  Roxbury  wing 
of  the  camp  ;  Lexington  five,  Bedford  four,  Lin- 
coln three  and  a  half,  to  Prospect  Hill  wing ; 
Newton  and  Weston  six,  Needham  five,  Waltham 
four,  Concord  and  Natick  three,  to  Cambridge. 

Hay  and  other  supplies  were  provided  in  a  sim- 
ilar manner. 

The  daily  coming  and  going  of  the  teams  kept 
the  towns  within  a  radius  of  a  dozen  miles  in 
touch  with  the  life  of  the  camp.  Many  a  box  of 
goodies  from  a  mother's  larder  brought  cheer  to 
the  boys,  with  a  loving  message  from  the  anxious 
at  home  ;  and  many  a  son,  prostrated  by  the  depri- 
vation of  camp-life,  was  borne  home  by  the  team- 
sters to  languish  and  die,  filling  patriots'  graves 


266  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

to-day  as  truly  as  though  they  had  fallen  at  Lex- 
ington, Concord,  or  Bunker  Hill. 

The  evacuation  of  Boston  relieved  Cambridge 
of  the  camp,  and  made  it  possible  for  Harvard 
College  to  return  to  its  own  buildings.  Many 
patriots  returned  to  their  deserted  homes  ;  but  the 
Loyalists,  of  which  Cambridge  had  a  good  share, 
found  no  sympathizing  hearts  to  welcome  them 
back  to  familiar  scenes. 

Before  the  barracks  had  been  removed  from 
Prospect  and  Winter  Hills,  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne  occurred  ;  and  in  November,  1777,  his  army 
of  prisoners  were  lodged  in  these  old  apartments. 
The  superior  position  of  officers  was  recognized 
by  their  allotment  to  dwelling-houses,  where  they 
were  kept  under  guard. 

Several  houses  that  witnessed  the  scenes  of 
camp-life  still  remain  in  Cambridge,  chief  among 
which,  for  its  pre-Revolutionary  reminders,  is 
the  dwelling  on  Linnehan  Street,  nor  far  from 
the  college  buildings. 

In  my  tour  about  Cambridge,  seeking  for  hid- 
den footprints,  I  happily  came  upon  this  dwelling, 
which  had  witnessed  the  vicissitudes  of  more  than 
a  century  before  the  Revolution.  Its  plain  sim- 
plicity is  in  striking  contrast  with  the  famous 
Vassall  house,  and  it  is  a  forcible  reminder  of 
the  more  common  life  of  the  majority  of  the 
colonists. 

While  the  house  in  its  well-kept  condition  offers 


CAMBRIDGE  26/ 

many  attractions  to  the  antiquarian,  a  face  seen 
through  the  narrow  pane  was  much  more  attrac- 
tive. It  was  that  of  Mrs.  Charlotte  Holden,  who 
in  her  ninety-eighth  year,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
her  faculties,  told  the  old"  story  as  she  received 
it  while  resting  her  youthful  head  upon  her 
mother's  bosom  she  listened  to  the  recital  of  what 
she  witnessed  at  Concord.  "  My  mother,"  said 
Mrs.  Holden,  "  was  Hepsibah  Buttrick,  daughter 
of  Joseph,  who,  with  his  brother.  Major  John  But- 
trick,  not  only  acted  the  part  of  patriots  at  Con- 
cord, but  did  much  to  infuse  that  spirit  into  the 
camp-life  of  Cambridge." 

I  would  that  any  who  thoughtlessly  enjoys  the 
blessings  of  liberty  might  be  aroused  to  a  keen 
sense  of  his  obligation  to  become  a  good  citizen 
through  this  woman's  recital  of  the  sacrifices 
made  to  give  every  true  American  a  share  in  the 
glorious  heritage  of  freedom.  Said  Mrs.  Holden : 
"I  am  one  of  three  sisters  whose  united  ages  are 
two  hundrcid  and  eighty-five  years.  We  are  grand- 
daughters of  one  of  the  "  thirteen  well-instructed 
children  of  Samuel  Buttrick  of  Concord." 

After  thoughtfully  noting  this  woman's  confir- 
mation of  the  narrative  already  received,  I  turned 
to  consider  with  her  a  few  incidents  connected 
with  this  locality. 

The  route  through  Cambridge  by  which  the 
enemy  made  haste  to  protection  was  not  the  same 
as  they  had  taken  under  cover  of  the  night,  nor 


268  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

that  which  the  re-enforcements  took  at  midday. 
In  the  hasty  return  they  took  the  route  that  winds 
around  Prospect  Hill.  Their  situation  was  critical 
when  they  entered  this  part  of  Charlestown. 
Their  progress  was  hindered  by  their  burden  of 
wounded  comrades,  whom  they  disliked  to  leave 
to  the  untried  mercy  of  the  patriots,  while  a 
strong  force  was  advancing  from  Roxbury,  Dor- 
chester, and  Milton.  Seven  hundred  of  the  Essex 
militia,  under  Colonel  Pickering,  threatened  to  cut 
them  off  altogether.  The  Americans  followed 
closely  upon  the  enemy,  reluctant  to  obey  the 
order  of  General  Heath  to  cease  the  pursuit  be- 
yond Charlestown  Common. 

The  dinner  provided  for  the  "  men-folks "  in 
the  homes  throughout  the  near  towns  came  to  the 
hungry  men  as  they  ceased  the  pursuit,  and  in 
time  to  revive  many  who,  regardless  of  self,  had 
fought  their  way  from  Old  North  Bridge  with 
little  or  no  refreshment.  General  Heath  placed 
suitable  guards,  and  conducted  the  weary  troops 
to  Cambridge,  where  they  "were  ordered  to  lie  on 
their  arms." 

The  power  of  imagination  fails  when  one  at- 
tempts to  recall  the  scenes  that  must  have  passed 
before  the  sleepless  eyes  of  many  who,  having 
thrown  themselves  down  in  the  open  field,  sought 
nature's  sweet  restorer.  From  their  beds  in  peace- 
ful homes  they  had  sprung,  made  a  hasty  march, 
faced  the  enemy,  pursued  them  through  a  deadly 


CAMBRIDGE  269 

fire,  and  now  waited  for  they  knew  not  what  on 
the  morrow's  dawn. 

The  continual  arrival  of  men,  together  with  the 
novel  labor  of  fitting  up  a  camp,  furnished  variety 
for  a  few  days  ;  but  this  soon  wore  away,  and  noth- 
ing but  the  spirit  of  real  patriotism  could  have 
deterred  them  all  from  returning  to  their  homes, 
in  the  absence  of  military  restraint  and  discipline. 

The  fight  through  Cambridge  to  Charlestown 
Common  was  not  without  its  sad  results  to  Cam- 
bridge families.  On  North  Avenue,  near  the 
easterly  end  of  Spruce  Street,  three  were  killed, 
—  John  Hicks,  Moses  Richardson,  and  William 
Marcy.  It  was  claimed  that  Hicks  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Tea-Party  of  Dec.  16,  1773.  He  left 
his  home  early  in  the  morning;  and,  not  returning, 
his  wife  sent  a  son  of  fourteen  years  to  look  for 
him.  He  found  him  lying  by  the  side  of  the  road 
dead ;  Marcy  and  Richardson  were  near  him.  The 
boy  procured  assistance ;  and  the  bodies  were  lifted 
into  a  rough  wagon,  and  taken  home.  Here,  as  in 
Menotomy,  circumstances  did  not  favor  funeral 
rites ;  and  the  three  were  hastily  buried  in  one 
grave.  It  is  said  that  a  son  of  Moses  Richardson, 
standing  by,  was  too  tender  hearted  to  see  the 
earth  thrown  directly  upon  their  faces  ;  and,  getting 
into  the  trench,  he  spread  the  large  cape  of  his 
father's  coat  over  his  face.  A  neat  Scotch  granite 
monument  stands  over  the  grave.  The  inscription 
is  this  :  — 


270  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

ERECTED   BY   THE   CITY   A.D.    1870. 

TO   THE   MEMORY   OF 

JOHN   HICKS,    WILLIAM   MARCY,    MOSES   RICHARDSON; 

BURIED   HERE,    JASON   RUSSELL,    JABEZ  WYMAN, 

JASON   WINSHIP,    BUR4ED   IN   MENOTOMY. 

MEN   OF   CAMBRIDGE 

WHO   FELL   IN   DEFENCE   OF   THE  LIBERTY  OF  THE  PEOPLE, 

APRIL    19,    1775. 

"O   WHAT   A   GLORIOUS    MORNING   IS   THIS ! " 


In  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  General  Arte- 
mas  Ward  arrived  in  Cambridge,  and,  being  the 
senior  general  officer,  became  commander-in-chief. 
Other  officers  having  arrived,  a  council  of  war  was 
immediately  held. 

Anxiety  and  deep  planning  were  now  the  por- 
tion of  the  leaders,  culminating  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  where  Colonel  Thomas  Gardner,  an 
honored  citizen  of  "  Little  Cambridge,"  received  a 
mortal  wound.  He  had  honorably  discharged  the 
duties  of  many  offices,  both  civic  and  military. 
When  his  superior  officer,  the  Tory  Brattle,  fled  to 
Boston,  he  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  his 
company.  He  responded  to  the  Lexington  alarm, 
and  soon  after  enlisted  a  regiment  for  the  Con- 
tinental army,  of  which  he  was  commissioned  as 
colonel  about  two  weeks  before  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill. 

Colonel  Gardner  lingered  about  two  weeks  after 
the  battle,  dying  on  the  day  which  is  remembered 
by  Washington's  taking  command  of  the  army. 


CAMBRIDGE  2/1 

Of  the  line  of  fortifications  that  extended  across 
Cambridge,  there  is  but  little  remaining.  The 
"  three-gun  battery  "  which  commanded  the  river 
down  to  Lechmere's  Point  has  been  carefully  pre- 
served. It  was  restored  in  1858  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible to  its  original  state,  enclosed  by  an  iron 
fence,  within  which  three  cannon  given  by  the 
United  States  are  mounted.  This  memorial  is  fit- 
tingly known  as  Fort  Washington.  The  site  of 
Fort  Putnam  at  East  Cambridge  presents  nothing 
of  the  appearance  of  a  fortification,  but  bears  an 
enduring  monument,  — the  Putnam  School. 

The  use  to  which  houses  in  Menotomy  were 
hastily  put  is  apparent  from  the  journals  of  indi- 
viduals, as  well  as  from  the  traditions  of  families, 
especially  that  of  the  Russell  family.  Says  my 
venerable  informant :  — 


"  In  the  confused  companies  of  the  British  when  on  their 
retreat,  was  seen  a  horse  and  chaise  in  which  was  being  car- 
ried one  of  their  officers,  who  proved  to  be  Lieutenant  Edward 
Hull  of  the  British  Forty-third  Regiment.  He  was  wounded 
at  North  Bridge,  and  was  being  conveyed  back  to  Boston. 
The  horse  was  not  so  swift  as  the  men  ;  and,  falling  in  the  rear, 
the  officer  received  a  second  wound.  It  was  near  the  Samuel 
Butterfield  dwelling,  and  he  was  carried  into  the  house 
vacated  by  the  affrighted  family.  Upon  the  return  of  the  lady 
of  the  house,  she  found  her  rooms  occupied.  There  was  a 
wounded  Provincial,  besides  Lieutenant  Hull.  They  were  both 
in  one  room,  each  having  been  placed  upon  a  bed  by  their 
respective  comrades.  How  much  interchange  of  sympathy 
there  was  we  do  not  know,  but  Mrs.  Butterfield  could  not  with- 


2/2  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

hold  her  sympathetic  attention  from  both.  She  ministered 
to  friend  and  foe  alilce  ;  saw  the  former  recover,  and  return  to 
his  family  at  Framingham.  But  notwithstanding  the  care  of 
the  good  woman,  together  with  that  of  nurses,  and  supplies 
sent  out  from  Boston  with  a  flag  of  truce,  the  young  officer 
died  in  about  two  weeks  ;  and,  according  to  the  Salem  Gazette 
of  May  5,  1775,  '  His  remains  were  next  day  conveyed  to 
Charlestown,  attended  by  a  company  of  Provincials  and  several 
officers  of  distinction,  and  there  delivered  to  the  order  of 
General  Gage.' " 

He  was  the  first  British  officer  who  lost  his  life 
in  the  war,  and  was  probably  buried  on  Copps 
Hill. 

While  receiving  the  best  of  care  at  the  Butter- 
field  home,  he  was  visited  by  Rev.  Dr.  McClure,  a 
prominent  clergyman,  who  kept  a  journal,  a  frag- 
ment of  which  has  come  to  light,  and  is  of  great 
interest,  not  only  to  the  people  of  Menotomy,  but 
to  all  interested  in  the  events  of  that  time. 

FRAGMENT    OF    DIARY. 

..."  that  it  was  flattened  on  one  side  by  the  ribs  as  if 
it  had  been  beaten  with  a  hammer.  He  was  a  plain,  honest 
man,  to  appearance,  who  had  voluntarily  turned  out  with  his 
musket  at  the  alarm  of  danger,  as  did  also  some  thousands 
besides,  on  that  memorable  day.  [Doubtless  Mr.  Hem- 
enway  of  Framingham.]  In  the  same  room  lay  mortally 
wounded  a  British  officer.  Lieutenant  Hull,  of  a  youthful, 
fair,  and  delicate  countenance.  He  was  of  a  respectable 
family  of  fortune  in  Scotland.  Sitting  on  one  feather-bed, 
he  leaned  on  another,  and  was  attempting  to  suck  the  juice 
of  an  orange  which  some  neighbor  had  brought.      The  phy- 


CAMBRIDGE  273 

sician  of  the  place  had  been  to  dress  his  wounds,  and  a 
woman  was  appointed  to  attend  him. 

"  I  observed  that  he  had  no  shirt  on,  and  was  wrapt  in  a 
coating  great-coat,  with  a  fur  cap  on  his  head.  I  inquired 
of  the  woman  why  he  was  thus  destitute  of  clothing.  He 
answered,  'When  I  fell,  our  people  [the  British]  stripped  me 
of  my  coat,  vest,  and  shirt,  and  your  people  of  my  shoes  and 
buckles.'  How  inhuman  !  his  own  men!  I  asked  him  if  he 
was  dangerously  wounded.  He  replied,  '  Yes,  mortally  ; " 
that  he  had  received  three  balls  in  his  body.  His  counte- 
nance expressed  great  bodily  anguish.  I  conversed  with  him 
a  short  time  on  the  prospect  of  death,  and  a  preparation  for 
the  solemn  scene ;  to  which  he  appeared  to  pay  serious  at- 
tention. He  lived  about  a  week ;  and  the  people  conveyed 
his  body  in  a  coffin  to  Charlestown  ferry,  where  I  happened 
to  be  present,  and  a  barge  from  the  Somerset  took  it  to 
Boston. 

"  Not  far  from  this  house  lay  four  fine  British  horses  ;  the 
people  were  taking  off  their  shoes.  One  informed  me  that  a 
wagon  loaded  with  provisions  was  sent  from  Boston  for  the 
refreshment  of  the  retreating  army,  under  an  escort  of  six 
grenadiers.  They  had  got  as  far  as  this  place,  when  a  num- 
ber of  men  (ten  or  twelve)  collected,  and  ordered  them  to 
surrender.  They  marched  on,  and  our  men  fired,  killed  the 
driver  and  the  horses ;  when  the  rest  fled  a  little  way  and 
surrendered. 

"  Another  wagon  sent  on  the  same  business  was  also 
taken  that  day.  It  was  strange  that  General  Gage  should 
send  them  through  a  country  in  which  he  had  just  kindled 
the  flames  of  war,  in  so  defenceless  a  condition.  Saw  three 
regulars  in  beds  in  a  house  in  Cambridge ;  one  of  them  mor- 
tally wounded.  Conversed  with  them  on  their  melancholy- 
situation.  One  of  them  refused  to  answer,  and  cast  upon 
me  a  revengeful  look.  Perhaps  he  was  a  Papist,  and  his 
priest  had  pardoned  his  sins.  The  houses  on  the  road  of 
the  march  of  the  British  were  all  perforated  with  balls,  and 


274  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

the  windows  broken.  Horses,  cattle,  and  swine  lay  dead 
around.  Such  were  the  dreadful  trophies  of  war  for  about 
twenty  miles.  I  hovered  around  Boston  several  days.  Very 
few  of  the  inhabitants  were  permitted  to  come  out.  Having 
some  things  in  Boston  which  I  wished  to  have  sent  round 
to  Marblehead,  I  wrote  to  my  brother-in-law,  Capt.  Henry 
Hunter,  who  with  my  sister  Hunter  were  there,  to  send 
them  ;  and  having  obtained  a  permit  from  the  colonel  com- 
manding our  militia  at  Roxbury,  to  go  to  the  British  guards 
on  the  Neck,  I  went  within  call,  and  waved  my  hat  for  per- 
mission to  enter,  when  Davis,  a  Boston  Tory,  and  inspector  of 
those  who  came  out,  came  towards  me,  but  refused  to  take 
tlie  letters  which  I  passed  towards  him.  He  said  General 
Gage  had  given  orders  that  there  should  be  no  communica- 
tion between  town  and  country.  I  got  my  letter  in,  how- 
ever, the  same  day." 


GENERAL    ARTEMAS    WARD  275 


CHAPTER    XXI 

GENERAL   ARTEMAS  WARD. THE    OLD    HOMESTEAD 

SHREWSBURY 

There  are  many  houses  in  New  England  still 
cherished  because  of  their  association  with  the 
opening  Revolution ;  among  them  is  one  from 
which  went  the  organizer  of  that  volunteer  army 
of  April  19,  1775.  It  is  in  the  town  of  Shrews- 
bury, and  is  known  as  the  Ward  homestead.  It 
may  be  seen  to-day  in  much  the  same  condition  as 
when  General  Artemas  Ward  rushed  to  the  front 
door  upon  seeing  in  the  distance  on  the  king's 
highway  a  galloping  steed,  "  bloody  with  spurring 
and  dripping  with  sweat,"  and  heard  from  the 
excited  rider,  "  To  arms !  To  arms  !  the  war's 
begun !  " 

This  house  has  never  passed  out  of  the  family 
possession ;  and  the  great-grandchildren  cross  the 
same  threshold  which  their  illustrious  ancestor 
trod  when  after  hasty  preparations  he  mounted 
his  horse  and  galloped  off  to  Cambridge,  reaching 
there  with  the  gathering  volunteers  on  the  day 
following  the  experiences  at  Lexington,  Concord, 
and  Cambridge. 


2/6 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 


Artemas  Ward,  famous  as  scholar,  soldier,  and 
jurist,  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  Worcester  County, 
in  1727.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College, 
and  for  some  years  a  teacher  of  distinction. 

He  married  a  great-granddaughter  of  Rev.  In- 
crease Mather,  and  settled  in  the  house  which 
has  ever  since  been  a  family  dwelling  of  peculiar 


D^t^ 

h9B^BI^B^^^B^BH^^B^^&¥*''' 

Ward  Homestead 


interest.  It  was  first  looked  upon  by  the  people 
of  the  county  as  a  place  of  justice,  young  Ward 
having  been  commissioned  one  of  his  Majesty's 
justices. 

In  this  house  the  expounder  of  the  law  had  his 
office ;  and  many  an  offender  was  from  its  narrow 
apartments  sent  to  the  whipping-post,  stocks,  or 
pillory.     Ward,   being  of   an   ambitious   turn   of 


GENERAL   ARTEMAS    WARD  277 

mind,  devoted  a  second  apartment  to  a  store,  and 
there  dealt  out  rum,  molasses,  broadcloth,  and 
that  combination  of  necessaries  found  at  that 
time  in  all  well-regulated  stores. 

The  rum,  says  a  descendant  and  present  occu- 
pant, was  bought  by  the  barrel  in  Boston  of 
Joshua  Winslow,  and  the  cloth  of  John  Hancock, 
the  affluent  merchant,  who  inherited  his  uncle's 
famous  mart  of  trade,  with  much  other  property. 

Dealing  out  rum  in  one  room,  and  meting  out 
justice  in  another,  seem  like  contradictory  em- 
ployments ;  but  both  were  profitable,  and  regarded 
as  equally  honorable  in  those  days. 

Young  Ward  was  made  captain  of  the  first 
military  company  raised  in  the  town,  and  this 
dwelling  was  the  headquarters  of  the  militia.  He 
was  raised  to  the  rank  of  major  in  the  Third  Regi- 
ment in  1755,  and  three  years  later  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel  in  the  regiment  of  footmen 
under  command  of  Colonel  Williams  that  set  out 
for  the  invasion  of  Canada  in  May  of  1758. 

Colonel  Ward  kept  a  journal  during  this  cam- 
paign. It  is  held  by  his  family  at  the  old  home, 
and  is  full  of  interest.     In  it  he  wrote  :  — 

Ajig.  9.  "  News  from  Rogers  that  he  had  got  forty  scalps 
ftnd  two  prisoners ;  he  lost  20  and  had  50  men  wounded  :  two 
brought  into  Fort  Edward  that  was  scalped,  but  alive.  Ye 
truth  is  they  gave  ye  enemy  a  good  drubbing  this  time." 

20.  "  This  day  news  came  to  headquarters  from  a  letter 
from  Gov.  Hutchinson  of  ye  surrender  of  Cape  Breton,  that 
it  surrendered  ye  26  of  July  last," 


278  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

The  Ward  family  treasure  a  bayonet  and  other 
military  trappings  of  that  expedition  in  which 
their  illustrious  ancestor  acted  a  creditable  part. 

In  1763  this  popular  man  of  the  Province  was 
given  the  commission  of  colonel,  and  regularly 
conducted  the  training  required  in  all  towns  at 
that  time.  He  had  urged  his  men  to  fight  for  the 
king  against  the  French,  but  now  showed  them 
their  duty  to  prepare  to  resist  the  encroachments 
of  George  III. 

The  royal  governor,  Francis  Bernard,  in  his 
luxuriant  living  at  Boston,  heard  of  the  disloy- 
alty of  Colonel  Ward,  and  sent  a  messenger  to 
this  house  with  a  letter.  The  colonel  was  not  at 
home,  but  was  found  at  the  meeting-house  su- 
perintending workmen.  The  mounted  agent  of 
Bernard  handed  the  letter  to  the  leading  man  of 
the  town. 

The  scarlet-coated  messenger  aroused  the  curi- 
osity of  the  workmen  ;  and  they  paused  to  learn 
the  nature  of  the  message,  which  Colonel  Ward 
read  aloud  :  — 

Boston,  June  30,  1 766. 
To  Artemas  Ward,  Esq. 

Sir,  —  I  am  ordered  by  the  Governor  to  signify  to  you 
that  he  has  thought  fit  to  supersede  your  commission  of 
Colonel  in  the  regiment  of  militia  lying  in  part  in  the  County 
of  Worcester,  and  partly  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and 
your  said  commission  is  superseded  accordingly. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obH  and  humble  servH, 

Jno.  Cotton,  Deputy  Secretary. 


GENERAL  ARTE  MAS    WARD 


279 


Not  to  be  disconcerted  in  such  a  manner,  the 
young  officer  manifested  the  gentleman  and  pa- 
triot by  replying  thus  :  — 

"Give  my  compliments 
to  the  governor,  and  say 
to  him  that  I  consider 
myself  twice  honored,  but 
more  in  being  superseded 
than  in  being  commis- 
sioned, and  "  (holding  up 
the  letter)  "that  I  thank 
him  for  this,  since  the 
motive  that  dictated  it  is 
evidence  that  I  am,  what 
he  is  not,  a  friend  to  my 
country." 

As  the  governor's  mes- 
senger rode  away  the 
people  shouted,  "  Colonel 
Ward  forever  !  " 

Artemas  Ward  added 
to  a  good  literary  educa- 
tion a  practical  training 
in  law,  and  also  a  thor- 
ough military  discipline. 
He  was  an  ardent  Whig, 
and  did  not  withhold  his 

opinions  on  the  state  of  government,  although  he 
knew  his  free  expression  must  result  in  the  dis- 
approval of  the  Loyalist  leaders  in  the  Province. 


General  Ward's  Sword 


280  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

His  sentiments  were  approved  by  his  towns- 
men, who  sent  him  to  act  as  governor's  council- 
lor; but  the  enraged  minion  of  King  George  III. 
would  not  accept  him  as  an  adviser,  and  ordered 
him  to  retire. 

He  was  then  sent  as  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  where  he  acted  according  to  his 
belief.  He  went  from  his  home  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  which  held  their  first  session  at  Salem 
Court  House.  Before  their  adjournment  to  the 
meeting-house  of  Concord,  they  chose  a  commit- 
tee of  thirteen  "to  consider  what  is  necessary  to 
be  done  now  for  the  defence  and  safety  of  the 
Province." 

Colonel  Ward  was  one  of  this  committee,  and  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  raised  to  regulate  the 
militia.  The  Provincial  Congress  selected  Arte- 
mas  Ward  as  one  of  the  general  officers ;  and  it 
was  doubtless  through  his  advice  that  Worcester, 
so  near  his  home,  was  selected  as  one  of  the 
places  for  the  deposit  of  the  materials  for  an  army. 
During  the  winter  of  1774-5  he  directed  the 
movements  of  the  patriots  near  his  home,  and 
also  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Congresses.  At 
the  adjournment  on  Saturday  the  15th  of  April, 
General  Ward  left  Concord  for  his  home,  John 
Hancock  for  his  lodgings  at  Lexington,  and 
others  for  other  homes  in  the  vicinity. 

The  associations  and  experiences  for  months 
had  kept  General  Ward  familiar  with  the  move- 


GENERAL   ARTEMAS    WARD  28 1 

ments  of  the  British  in  Boston ;  and  he,  with 
his  townsmen,  were  well  prepared  for  the  mes- 
sage which  called  him  from  his  home  on  the 
19th. 

Despite  the  proclamation  of  Governor  Gage, 
that  all  rebels  taken  in  arms  should  be  brought 
to  the  gallows.  General  Ward  was  found  on  duty 
at  Cambridge,  April  20,  when  as  the  senior  gen- 
eral officer  he  relieved  General  Heath,  and  became 
commander-in-chief. 

He  established  his  headquarters  at  the  house 
of  Jonathan  Hastings,  now  known  as  the  Holmes 
House. 

Even  an  army  of  volunteer  patriots  required 
discipline,  and  General  Ward  found  it  difficult  to 
bring  order  out  of  the  condition  into  which  the 
unrestrained  volunteers  naturally  fell.  On  the 
19th  of  the  following  month  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress issued  his  commission  as  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Massachusetts  forces. 

The   Congress  of  the   Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the 
Honorable  Artemas  Ward,  Esquire,  greeting:  — 

We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  cour- 
age and  good  conduct,  do  by  these  presents,  constitute  and 
appoint  you,  the  said  Artemas  Ward,  to  be  general  and 
commander-in-chief  of  all  the  forces  raised  by  the  Congress 
aforesaid  for  the  defence  of  this  and  the  other  American 
colonies. 

You  are  therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge 
the  duty  of  a  general  in  leading,  ordering,  and  exercising 


282  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

the  forces  in  army,  both  inferior  officers  and  soldiers,  and  to 
keep  them  in  good  order  and  discipline,  and  they  are  hereby 
commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  general ;  and  you  are  your- 
self to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  instructions  as 
you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  this  or  any  future 
Congress  or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  colony,  or  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  so  far  as  said  committee  is  empowered 
by  this  commission  to  order  and  instruct  you  for  the  defence 
of  this  and  the  other  colonies ;  and  to  demean  yourself 
according  to  the  military  rule  and  discipline  established  by 
said  Congress,  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed  in  you. 
By  order  of  the  Congress. 

Dated  19th  May,  a.d.  1775. 

Jos.  Warren, 

Pres.  pro  tern. 

The  army  met  by  General  Ward  at  Cambridge 
was  enough  to  excite  the  laugh  which  they  re- 
ceived from  the  British  soldiers.  Some  of  them 
were  dressed  in  the  long-tailed  linsey-woolsey 
coats  and  breeches  which  had  been  spun  and 
woven  in  farmhouse  kitchens  ;  some  wore  smock 
frocks  like  a  butcher,  also  of  home  manufacture ; 
some  wore  suits  of  British  broadcloth,  so  long 
used  for  Sunday  clothes  that  they  were  the  worse 
for  wear ;  and  every  variety  of  dress  and  fashion 
figured  in  these  motley  ranks. 

This  tatterdemalion  army  had  gone  out  with 
the  idea  of  fighting  the  British  on  the  first  day, 
then  and  there  to  settle  the  whole  matter. 

General  Ward's  first  order  after  leaving  his 
peaceful  home  at  Shrewsbury  was  issued  at  Cam- 


GENERAL   ARTE  MAS    WARD  283 

bridge  on  the  20th,  "  That  a  captain,  one  lieu- 
tenant, two  sergeants,  and  fifty-two  rank  and  file 
march  immediately  to  bury  the  dead  and  take 
care  of  the  wounded." 

Love  had  prompted  the  Americans  along  the 
route  to  care  for  their  dead  and  wounded,  and  of 
necessity  many  of  the  enemy  had  received  Chris- 
tian attention. 

The  distance  did  not  prevent  correspondence 
between  the  Shrewsbury  home  and  the  headquar- 
ters of  their  honored  citizen  at  Cambridge.  When 
the  poor  were  sent  out  of  the  besieged  town  of 
Boston,  thirty-two  found  homes  among  the  neigh- 
bors of  General  Ward. 

Their  arrival  aroused  the  sympathy  and  curi- 
osity of  the  people  who  were  left  at  home ;  and 
a  son  of  General  Ward,  with  a  boy  companion, 
set  out  and  walked  to  Cambridge,  reaching  there 
on  the  unfortunate  day  of  the  battle  at  Charles- 
town. 

The  General  was  not  well  pleased  to  see  his  son 
there  at  that  time,  for  the  battle  was  already  be- 
gun. His  look  of  disapproval,  and  "  How  is  this, 
Tommy  .-'  "  struck  the  boy  as  not  propitious  for  a 
long  visit ;  and  "You  must  go  right  back,"  settled 
the  matter.  It  was  the  order  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  and  must  be  obeyed  ;  and  so  these  sons  of 
soldiers,  who  were  brought  up  to  obey  in  times 
of  peace,  turned  their  backs  on  the  camp  and 
all  they  had  walked  so  far   to  see,  and  set  their 


284  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

faces  homeward,  even  though  the  balls  from  the 
•Lively  and  Somerset,  men-of-war  in  the  harbor, 
were  flying  over  at  the  intrenchments  on  Bunker 
Hill,  and  the  redcoats  would  soon  march  up  the 
hill  to  their  death.  The  rattle  of  musketry 
reached  their  ears,  and  the  flames  of  burning 
Charlestown  were  in  sight,  when  they  turned  to 
look  back  after  they  were  well  out  of  town.  They 
had  seen  the  camp,  and  had  heard  the  noise  of 
battle ;  they  had  that  to  remember ;  and  they 
could  remember  also  that  like  good  soldiers  they 
had  obeyed  orders. 

General  Ward's  authority  did  not  extend  at  first 
beyond  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  but  later  was 
extended  to  the  command  of  the  New  Hampshire 
forces.  The  affairs  were  in  a  very  precarious  sit- 
uation when  the  Continental  Congress  appointed 
George  Washington  to  be  commander-in-chief  of 
all  the  forces,  and  he  took  command  at  Cambridge 
on  July  3. 

Washington  arranged  the  army  into  three  grand 
divisions,  each  consisting  of  two  brigades,  or 
twelve  regiments,  in  which  the  troops  from  the 
same  colony,  as  far  as  practicable,  were  brought 
together. 

The  right  wing,  under  Major-General  Ward, 
consisted  of  two  brigades,  commanded  by  Gen- 
erals Thomas  and  Spenser,  and  was  stationed  at 
Roxbury  and  its  southern  dependencies.  The  left 
wing. was  placed  under  the  command  of  General 


GENERAL   ARTE  MAS    WARD  285 

Lee,  and  consisted  of  the  brigades  of  Sullivan 
and  Green  ;  the  former  was  stationed  on  Winter 
Hill,  the  latter  upon  Prospect  Hill.  The  centre 
station  was  commanded  by  General  Putnam,  and 
consisted  of  two  brigades,  one  of  which  was  com- 
manded by  Heath,  and  the  other  by  a  senior  offi- 
cer of  less  rank  than  that  o'f  brigadier.  Thomas 
Mifflin,  who  accompanied  Washington  from  Phil- 
adelphia as  aid-de-camp,  was  made  quartermaster- 
general.  Joseph  Trumbull,  son  of  the  patriot 
governor  of  Connecticut,  was  appointed  commis- 
sary-general ;  and  upon  Joseph  Reed  of  Philadel- 
phia was  bestowed  the  post  of  secretary  to  the 
commander-in-chief.  In  a  short  time  Reed  re- 
turned to  Philadelphia,  and  was  succeeded  in  office 
by  Robert  H.  Harrison,  a  lawyer  of  Maryland. 

General  Ward  was  now  in  charge  of  the  forces 
at  Roxbury,  where  he  directed  the  movements  of 
the  patriot  army. 

It  would  naturally  be  expected  that  the  people 
of  Shrewsbury,  neighbors  and  friends  of  General 
Artemas  Ward,  would  make  liberal  sacrifice  to 
aid  the  cause  of  the  patriots,  which  they  most 
cheerfully  did. 

In  the  preparations  for  war  being  made  at  Cam- 
bridge, it  was  found  that  the  number  of  firelocks 
was  not  equal  to  the  number  of  enlisted  men ; 
and  a  call  was  made  upon  the  towns  to  forward 
any  in  their  possession  to  Watertown,  where  they 
would  be  duly  paid.     Twenty-two  were  sent  from 


286  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

Shrewsbury ;  and  there  were  found  in  that  town 
five  barrels  of  powder,  which,  with  the  exception 
of  one-half  of  a  barrel,  were  sent  off  to  the  army. 

A  large  number  of  the  citizens  were  soon  found 
at  Cambridge,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
beloved  fellow-citizen  from  that  remote  town. 
They  were  with  their  honored  townsman,  and  of 
the  army  that  threw  up  the  fortification  at  Dor- 
chester Hills,  the  work  of  which  General  Howe 
said,  "  The  rebels  have  done  more  in  one  night 
than  my  whole  army  would  have  done  in  a 
month." 

In  a  correspondence  which  passed  between 
Generals  Washington  and  Ward  at  this  time, 
there  is  allusion  to  the  plan  of  filling  barrels  with 
sand  to  roll  down  upon  an  advancing  enemy.  Of 
this  Washington  writes  :  "  As  I  have  a  very  high 
opinion  of  the  defence  which  may  be  made  with 
Barrels  from  either  of  the  Hills,  I  could  wish  you 
to  have  a  number  over.  Perhaps  single  Barrels 
would  be  better  than  linking  of  them  together, 
being  less  liable  to  accidents.  The  Hoops  should 
be  well  nailed,  or  else  they  will  soon  fly  and  the 
casks  fall  to  pieces." 

After  the  evacuation,  came  the  entry  of  Wash- 
ington to  the  dilapidated  town  of  Boston,  When 
the  commander-in-chief  was  preparing  to  go  with 
most  of  his  army  to  New  York,  he  wrote  to  Gen- 
eral Ward,  asking  him  to  remove  into  Boston  (if 
he  were  not  afraid  of  the  small-pox),  and  to  take 


GENERAL   ARTE  MAS    WARD  287 

command  of  the  five  regiments  to  be  left  there 
for  the  defence  of  the  town,  direct  the  erection 
of  works,  and  attend  to  matters  in  general. 

He  took  command  as  requested,  and  found  the 
town  in  a  state  of  confusion,  disorder,  disease, 
and  poverty.  His  task  to  restore  order,  and 
cleanse,  fortify,  and  defend  the  place,  was  most 
discouraging.  He  wrote  to  John  Hancock  in  the 
autumn  of  1776:  "I  had  everything  to  do,  and 
nothing  to  do  with." 

General  Ward  escaped  the  fearful  scourge, 
small-pox;  but  not  so  fortunate  were  all  his  towns- 
men, as  a  gravestone  in  Granary  Burying-Ground 
bears  witness. 

HERE  LIES   INTERRED 

YE   BODY   OF   MR.   JOTHAM   BUSH  OF   SHREWSBURY, 

WHO   DIED   WITH   THE   SMALL-POX 

FEBRUARY   YE    1ST,    A.    DOM.    1 776, 

IN   YE  49TH    YEAR   OF   HIS   AGE. 

While  Stationed  in  Boston,  General  Ward  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  John  Hancock,  which  speaks 
for  itself,  and  reminds  us  of  that  bold  act  of  the 
people,  by  which  the  4th  of  July  became  an  occa- 
sion of  joy  to  all  Americans. 

Philadelphia, ////k,  6,  1776. 

Sir,  —  The  enclosed  Declaration  of  Independence,  I  am 

directed  to  transmit  to  you  with  a  request  that  you  will  have 

it  proclaimed  at  the  head  of  the  Troops  under  your  command 

in  the  Way  you  shall  think  most  proper.     I  have  only  time 


288  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

to  add,  that  the  importance  of  it  will  naturally  suggest  the 
Propriety  of  proclaiming  it  in  such  a  manner,  as  that  the 
whole  army  may  be  fully  appraised  of  it. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  most  obed.  and  very  h"ble  ser. 

John  Hancock, 

Presdt. 

The  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence was  ordered  in  every  department  of  the 
army  and  in  every  town  in  the  colonies.^  It  was 
the  minister  who  read  it,  generally,  in  the  towns; 
and  the  public  reading  was  followed  by  a  record 
of  the  immortal  document  being  made  in  the 
tf)wn's  book  by  the  clerk. 

If  the  patriot  of  to-day  would  put  himself  in 
touch  with  the  patriots  of  1776,  let  him  visit 
the  old  meeting-house  at  Sandown,  N.H.,  or  at 
Rocky  Hill  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,  or  at  Rockingham, 
Vt.,  in  either  of  which  he  will  see  the  meeting- 
place  of  the  people  in  its  primitive  simplicity,  as 
when  the  minister  from  the  high  pulpit  unrolled 
the  scroll,  and  read  to  his  congregation  the  act  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  to  the  support  of  which 
they  had  pledged  their  lives  and  fortunes. 

I  have  stood  in  each  of  these  rude  meeting- 
houses until  I  have  seen  rise  up  in  fancy  from 
the  great  square  pews  the  whitened  head  of  the 

^  The  Declaration  o!  Independence  was  first  read  in  Boston 
amid  great  rejoicing  from  the  balcony  of  the  Town  House  on 
July  18. 


Rocky  Hill  Church,  Salisbury.     Page  28 


GENERAL   ARTEMAS    WARD  289 

aged  father,  extending  his  form  in  earnestness, 
with  hand  raised  behind  his  ear  to  enable  him  to 
catch  the  words  as  they  fell  from  the  minister's 
lips.  I  have  seen  the  mother  in  sable  mantle 
bow  her  head  in  cheerful  assent,  while  she  wiped 
away  the  tears  from  eyes  that  would  not  cease 
their  weeping  since  the  loss  of  a  noble  son  at 
Bunker  Hill.  I  could  read  in  the  tell-tale  counte- 
nance of  some  half-persuaded  Tory,  "  Let  them 
maintain  it  if  they  can."  From  the  upper  gallery 
I  have  detected  the  shining  face  of  a  negro  slave, 
ready  to  smile  assent  to  what  he  saw  gave  pleas- 
ure to  his  master  in  the  pew  below,  little  realizing 
that  it  meant  ultimately  freedom  to  himself.  I 
have  stood  outside  when  the  congregation,  having 
sung  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow," 
have  come  out,  gathered  in  groups,  and  discussed 
the  grave  questions  of  the  hour. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1776  General  Ward's 
duties  in  the  army  ceased,  through  his  resignation 
occasioned  by  ill  health  ;  but  his  service  as  a  pa- 
triot was  not  over.  In  the  following  year  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Executive  Council  of  the 
colony,  and  in  1779  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Continental  Congress. 

The  method  of  travel  of  the  patriots  of  the 
Revolution  is  seen  in  the  manner  in  which  Gen- 
eral Ward  set  out  from  his  home  on  the  i6th 
of  May,  1780,  for  Philadelphia,  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress.     He  was  accompanied  by  Daniel  New- 


290  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

ton  of  the  same  town,  who  went  with  him  as 
serv^ant,  each  on  horseback,  the  horses  being  pur- 
chased for  the  trip  ;  the  expense  of  the  journey 
being  $2041.50  in  old  currency.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  being  in  Philadelphia, 
and  wishing  to  return  to  Massachusetts,  young 
Newton  was  sent  as  his  escort,  who  returned 
immediately,  and  accompanied  General  Ward  back 
to  his  Shrewsbury  home.  My  acquaintance  with 
the  family  warrants  me  in  extending  an  invitation 
to  my  readers  to  accompany  me  to  the  home  of 
the  famous  patriot  and  of  the  generations  who 
have  succeeded  him. 

The  old  homestead  retains  much  of  its  colonial 
grandeur  and  distinction.  Standing  away  from  the 
village,  surrounded  by  ample  grounds,  it  suggests 
in  a  limited  manner  the  home  of  Washington  at 
Mt.  Vernon,  or  of  Lee  at  Arlington,  with  the 
Potomac  for  their  highway. 

Here  are  the  hand-made  window-sashes  and 
heavy  blinds,  the  great  locks  and  hinges  on  the 
doors,  and  the  hospitable  fireplace,  around  which 
the  general  sat  with  his  family  as  he  told  them  of 
the  experiences  of  camp-life,  as  well  as  of  Bunker 
Hill,  of  which  he  made  the  simple  record,  "  The 
battle  is  going  on  at  Charlestown."  There  is 
the  old  wainscoting,  each  panel  of  which  seems  to 
serve  as  the  background  for  a  picture  of  colonial 
grandeur. 

If  there  was  any  feeling  of  dislike  for  Washing- 


THE   OLD   HOMESTEAD  29 1 

ton  when  he  superseded  the  noted  patriot  of 
Shrewsbury,  it  all  passed  from  the  breast  of  Gen- 
eral Ward  when  the  Father  of  his  Country  visited 
that  town  in  1789.  He  was  entertained  at  the 
Farrar  Tavern,  then  in  its  full  glory  as  a  hostlery. 
The  room  is  still  indicated  where  the  general  sat 
and  drank  his  wine,  while  those  of  inferior  rank 
stood  up  to  the  bar  and  drank  together  after  the 
more  common  social  manners  of  the  time. 

A  souvenir  of  that  trip  made  by  Washington 
is  preserved.  It  is  a  silver  quarter  of  a  dollar,  and 
was  obtained  in  the  following  way,  says  the  histo- 
rian, a  descendant  of  General  Artemas  Ward. 

"When  it  became  known  that  the  hero  of  the 
Revolution  was  to  pass  this  way,  the  school-chil- 
dren received  an  extra  lesson  in  making  their 
manners,  that  they  might  greet  the  chieftain  with 
proper  respect ;  and  so  it  happened  that  as  General 
Washington  was  riding  by  in  his  carriage  drawn 
by  two  bay  horses,  preceded  by  his  guard  on  dap- 
ple-gray horses,  his  attention  was  attracted  to 
a  row  of  children  on  each  side  of  the  road,  the 
boys  on  one  side  making  their  bows,  and  the 
girls  sweeping  their  graceful  courtesies  on  the 
other. 

"The  outriders  in  their  uniforms,  bright  with 
scarlet  cloth  and  gold  lace,  were  so  splendid  that 
the  children  hardly  noticed  the  stopping  of  the 
carriage,  until  a  gentleman  in  plain  brown  dress 
alighted,   and  Washington    himself   stood   before 


292  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

them,  speaking  to  every  child,  and  shaking  hands 
with  the  older  ones. 

"  A  daughter  of  the  tavern-keeper  was  among 
them ;  her  expectations  of  seeing  some  wonderful 
being  were  disappointed  when  the  tall  man  plainly 
dressed  appeared  before  her;  and  she  turned 
her  back,  refusing  her  courtesy  to  the  '  Father  of 
his  Country,'  exclaiming,  '  He  is  nothing  but  a 
man  !  ' 

"This  amused  Washington,  who,  calling  her  to 
him,  presented  her  with  a  silver  quarter." 


FIRST  RIDE   OF  PAUL  REVERE  293 


CHAPTER    XXII 

GROTON     PATRIOTS.  THE     FIRST     RIDE    OF     PAUL 

REVERE,     AND      ITS      CONSEQUENCES.  JAMES 

SULLIVAN.  GROTON       INN.  REV.      SAMUEL 

DANA, CHARLESTOWN's     DISTRESS.  STORY 

OF    REV.    JOSEPH    WHEELER 

Before  undertaking  to  trace  the  footprints  of  the  patriots  of  Groton, 
it  may  be  well  to  consider  a  movement  which  may  throw  much  light 
upon  the  acts  of  the  men  of  this  town. 

The  midnight  ride  of  Paul   Revere,  made  fa- 
mous by  the  poet  Longfellow,  was  not  the  first 
ride  taken  by  that  patriot  in  the  interest  of  the^ 
colonial  cause. 

He  rode  out  to  Lexington  on  Sunday  the  i6th 
of  April  with  a  message  from  Dr.  Warren  to  the 
noted  guests  at  the  parsonage,  they  having  left 
Concord  on  the  previous  afternoon  at  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Congress.  The  message  was  doubt- 
less to  the  effect  that  the  movements  of  Gen- 
eral Gage  indicated  some  decided  action  in  the 
near  future.  Having  delivered  his  message  with 
promptness.  Revere  returned  in  the  afternoon, 
when,  before  crossing  the  river  from  Charles- 
town,  he  made  the  arrangement  with  Colonel 
Conant  for  hanging  the  signal  lanterns, 

"One  if  by  land,  two  if  by  sea;" 


294  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

a  plan  doubtless  matured  in  his  mind  during  his 
return  trip  from  Lexington. 

While  the  Provincial  Congress  had  adjourned  on 
the  15th  to  meet  again  the  next  month,  the  Com- 
mittees of  Safety  and  Supplies,  which  had  con- 
trol of  the  military  matters,  etc.,  had  not  reached 
a  final  adjournment.  They  held  a  meeting  on 
Monday  following,  and,  it  is  inferred,  began  the 
session  before  the  arrival  of  John  Hancock  from 
Lexington,  who,  doubtless  actuated  by  the  Sab- 
bath message,  secured  a  vote  to  send  the  cannon 
away  to  places  of  safety. 

A  vote  is  recorded,  "That  the  four  six-pounders 
be  transported  to  Groton,  and  put  under  the  care 
of  Colonel  Prescott." 

Another  vote,  "That  the  two  committees  ad- 
journ to  Mr.  Wetherby's  "  (The  Black  Horse)  at 
Menotomy,  at  ten  o'clock,  explains  the  presence  of 
a  trio  before  mentioned,  early  driven  from  their 
lodgings  on  the  night  of  April  18-19. 

Agreeable  to  the  votes  of  the  committee,  the 
cannon  were  sent  to  Groton  on  Tuesday  the  i8th, 
arriving  there  late  in  the  afternoon,  at  the  very 
time  the  British  troops  in  Boston  were  preparing 
to  take  their  midnight  march  in  search  of  them 
with  other  supplies. 

Having  introduced  this  preliminary  in  order  to 
make  clear  some  of  the  movements  of  the  Groton 
patriots,  we  now  turn  to  consider  the  town's  part 
in  the  memorable  events. 


GkoToat  pa tr jots  295 

Groton  and  Pepperell  were  territorially  one  in 
the  early  days,  and  their  military  relations  were 
somewhat  mixed  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution. 
The  popularity  of  Colonel  Prescott,  whose  home 
was  at  Pepperell,  led  many  outside  of  his  town  to 
desire  to  be  in  the  ranks  under  his  command. 
There  were  four  companies  from  these  two  towns 
early  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  on  the  19th  ; 
while  it  is  claimed  that  several  patriots  preceded 
the  companies,  and  were  at  Concord  in  time  to 
engage  in  the  fight  at  the  bridge.  I  give  the 
story  of  Captain  Aaron  Corey,  as  told  to  me  by 
William  W.  Wheildon,  a  noted  historian,  who  had 
it  from  Mr.  Wright,  a  grandson  of  Captain  Corey. 
**  My  grandfather  told  me,  that  '  on  the  day  be- 
fore the  Concord  Fight,  April  18,  while  I  was 
ploughing  in  my  field,  some  distance  from  the 
middle  of  the  town,  I  received  notice  of  a  meeting 
of  the  minute-men,  which,  of  course,  demanded 
immediate  attention.  It  was  in  the  afternoon 
towards  evening  when  I  received  the  notification. 
I  at  once  unhitched  my  plough,  drove  my  oxen 
home,  took  down  my  gun  and  belt,  told  my  wife 
Molly  that  I  was  going  away  and  could  not  tell 
when  I  should  come  back,  and  that  she  must  take 
care  of  the  oxen.  I  then  hastened  to  the  middle 
of  the  town,  and  joined  my  comrades  who  had 
assembled  there. 

"'The  circumstance  which  had  led  them  to  call 
the  meeting  was  the  arrival  of  some  brass  cannon 


296  BEMEATH  OLD  HOOF  TREES 

from  Concord.  Of  course  the  presence  of  these 
immediately  gave  rise  to  discussion  and  specu- 
lation as  to  the  reason  for  their  being  sent  to 
Groton  from  Concord.  Various  suggestions  were 
made,  the  most  prominent  of  which  was  a  propo- 
sition that  the  company  should  march  at  once  to 
Concord  ;  but  this  when  put  to  vote  was  deter- 
mined in  the  negative,  most  of  the  members  pre- 
ferring to  wait  for  further  intelligence. 

"'This  conclusion  was  not  satisfactory  to  all  of 
us,  and  some  determined  to  go  at  once.  There 
were  nine  of  us  who  started  that  evening.  We 
travelled  all  night,  carrying  lighted  pine  torches 
a  part  of  the  way,  and  we  reached  Concord  at 
an  early  hour  of  the  morning  [probably  through 
Acton].  We  entered  one  side  of  the  town  some 
hours  before  the  British  troops  entered  upon  the 
other.  We  all  went  and  got  some  breakfast  at 
Colonel  Barrett's  house,  which  was  later  visited 
by  the  British  troops  in  search  of  the  cannon, 
ammunition,  and  stores,  most  of  which  had  been 
fortunately  removed  the  day  before  to  places  of 
safety.  After  getting  something  to  eat,  we  pro- 
ceeded toward  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  soon 
joined  the  men  of  Concord,  and  finally  were  in 
the  ranks  of  the  minute-men  at  or  near  the  North 
Bridge,  where  the  fight  with  the  British  troops 
occurred.  We  kept  with  the  minute-men,  and  fol- 
lowed the  retreating  troops  to  Lexington  and 
beyond.' 


GROrON  PATRIOTS  297 

"After  telling  me  this  story,"  said  Mr.  Wright, 
"  my  grandfather  gave  to  me  an  old  powder-horn 
which  he  had  used  during  the  war,  saying,  '  I  took 
this  from  a  British  soldier  who  had  been  shot 
on  the  retreat  to  Lexington,  and  whose  body  was 
lying  by  the  roadside  in  Lincoln.^  Some  of  the 
other  men  took  off  his  boots  and  some  of  his 
clothes.'  The  powder-horn,"  said  Mr.  Wright, 
"was  quite  a  nice  piece  of  work,  and  held  just 
one  pound  of  powder.  It  had  a  peculiar  stopper 
(probably  a  spring  snapper  like  some  now  known)  ; 
and  at  the  large  end,  on  the  under  side  (when 
hung  over  the  shoulder),  was  engraved  the  Eng- 
lish coat-of-arms,  and  on  the  upper  side  what 
they  called  the  British  ensign.  The  bottom  of 
the  horn  was  made  of  brass,  saucer-shaped,  with 
a  hole  half  an  inch  in  diameter  in  the  centre 
serving  as  a  tunnel  to  pour  in  the  powder,  with 
a  wooden  stopper.  After  using  the  powder-horn 
in  many  hunting  excursions,  it  was  finally  lost  in 
the  burning  of  a  house." 

Dr.  Samuel  A.  Green,  a  distinguished  son  of 
Groton,  has  done  much  to  perpetuate  the  record 
of  some  of  the  patriots  who  have  been  identified 
with  his  native  town.  From  his  record  I  gather 
the  following  facts  :  Although  not  a  native,  James 
Sullivan  added  lustre  to  the  honor  of  Groton. 
He  was  born  in  the  district  of  Maine,  on  April 

^  The  dead  soldier  was  probably  one  of  those  buried  in  Lincoln 
graveyard.     See  Lincoln. 


2gB  BENEATH  OLD  kOOE  TREES 

22,  1744,  and  spent  his  early  years  there.  He 
was  a  member  of  three  Provincial  Congresses 
from  Biddeford,  during  the  years  1774  and  1775, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court  from  the 
same  town  during  the  two  succeeding  years.  On 
March  20,  1776,  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Judicature,  which  position  he 
held  for  six  years.  He  went  to  Groton  in  1778, 
to  locate  with  his  family  in  order  to  get  away 
from  the  seacoast.  In  August  of  the  same  year 
he  was  chosen  by  the  voters  of  Groton  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  convention  for  framing  the  Constitu- 
tion of  Massachusetts.  In  February,  1782,  he  was 
chosen,  by  a  joint  convention  of  both  branches 
of  the  General  Court,  a  delegate  in  the  place  of 
Samuel  Adams  to  the  Continental  Congress,  then 
in  session  at  Philadelphia.  He  represented  the 
town  of  Groton  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
for  thirteen  years,  and  Medford  for  twelve  years. 
He  was  speaker  of  that  body  for  thirteen  years, 
the  longest  term  of  service  in  that  capacity  ever 
held  by  one  person.  He  was  elected  the  seventh 
governor  of  the  State  in  1807,  and  died  in  office 
on  Dec.  10,  1808. 

The  town  of  Groton  is  notable  for  its  many 
time-honored  residences,  but  there  is  none  around 
whose  hearthstone  so  many  of  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution  have  gathered  to  smoke  the  pipe  in 
peace  as  have  assembled  around  the  blazing  fire 
at  "  Groton  Inn." 


=1, 


HEV.   SAMUEL   DANA  299 

The  guest  of  to-day,  when  crossing  that  well- 
worn  threshold,  can  have  no  adequate  idea  of  the 
dignified  step  of  the  man  in  clerical  robes  who 
went  in  and  out  this  door  at  the  times  of  peculiar 
trial  in  the  colonies.  It  was  then  the  parsonage  ; 
and  here  Rev.  Samuel  Dana  resided  with  his 
family,  honored  and  beloved  by  his  people,  until 
the  political  troubles  of  the  Revolution  began  to 
crop  out.  His  sympathies  were  with  the  crown, 
while  those  of  his  people  were  equally  strong  on 
the  other  side.  The  minute-men,  knowing  their 
pastor's  sentiments,  invited  the  Rev.  Samuel  Web- 
ster, pastor  of  the  church  at  Temple,  N.H.,  to 
preach  to  them  at  Groton.  His  sermon,  delivered 
Feb.  21,  1775,  was  full  of  patriotic  sentiment,  and 
doubtless  served  to  widen  the  gap  between  the 
pastor  and  people  at  Groton.  Rev.  Mr.  Dana,  firm 
in  his  conviction  of  duty,  preached  a  sermon  from 
his  pulpit  early  in  the  spring,  which  together 
with  other  Tory  acts  led  to  his  dismissal  from  the 
church  and  town. 

The  vacated  parsonage  was  occupied  by  Captain 
Jonathan  Keep,  and  kept  by  him  as  a  tavern  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  Revolution.  Here  the 
broken  soldiers  were  wont  to  assemble,  and  tell 
how  fields  were  won,  while  the  crackling  flames 
rolled  up  the  chimney,  and  the  oft -repeated  three- 
penny glass  of  grog  served  to  rekindle  the  fire  of 
patriotism  in  the  breasts  of  the  heroes  of  Bunker 
Hill,  Bennington,  or  Valley  Forge. 


300  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

The  old  parsonage,  enlarged  from  time  to  time, 
has  been  kept  as  a  tavern  for  the  greater  part  of  a 
century.  The  old  soldiers  long  ago  ceased  to  con- 
gregate beneath  that  ancient  roof  ;  but  their  noble 
deeds  are  still  rehearsed  at  the  cheerful  fireside, 
and  the  old  musket  occupies  a  familiar  place  on 
the  wall. 

CHARLESTOWN. 

The  geographical  situation  of  Charlestown  ren- 
dered the  circumstances  of  her  patriot  citizens 
peculiarly  trying.  Separated  from  Boston  by 
the  narrow  channel  of  the  Charles  River,  and 
that  continually  traversed  by  a  ferry,  made  the 
two  towns  practically  one  settlement.  Every 
public  movement  of  the  Charlestown  people  was 
detected  by  Governor  Gage,  who  through  the  aid 
of  the  Loyalists  knew  the  entire  workings  of  this 
near  neighborhood.  But  even  this  did  not  deter 
the  patriots  from  decided  action,  each  step  be- 
ing in  harmony  with  that  of  their  sympathizers 
in  Boston.  The  Stamp  Act  infuriated  them  ;  the 
massacre  in  King  Street  called  out  their  indigna- 
tion, and  they  went  in  large  companies  over  the 
ferry  to  see  the  blood  of  the  victims  that  cried 
out  to  them  from  the  ground,  "  Avenge  thy 
brothers'  death."  The  question  of  the  tea  seemed 
to  disturb  the  entire  social  element  of  the  town. 
This,  as  no  previous  question,  disturbed  the  patri- 
otic women.     The  sociability  of  the  exhilarating 


CHARLESTOWN'S  DISTRESS  3OI 

cup  was  nevertheless  set  aside  to  some  extent. 
A  substitute  for  green  and  bohea  was  quite  com- 
monly introduced  in  the  colonies.  It  was  an  herb 
known  as  Labrador,  of  which  immense  quantities 
grew  all  over  New  England.  It  was  advertised 
as  of  superior  flavor  to  the  imported  tea. 

In  1768  the  inhabitants  of  Charlestown  unani- 
mously agreed  to  use  no  more  tea.  They  gath- 
ered up  the  stocic  in  hand,  and  burnt  it  in  the 
public  square  at  midday. 

One  of  the  Daughters  of  Liberty  of  this  town, 
while  in  a  store  in  Boston,  made  selection  of  vari- 
ous articles  which  she  desired  to  purchase,  and 
then  asked  if  they  sold  tea  ;  being  told  that  they 
did,  the  patriot  refused  to  take  any  of  the  articles. 

A  man  who  carted  to  Marblehead  some  chests 
of  tea  that  had  been  imported  contrary  to  rules 
was  immediately  visited  by  the  indignation  of  his 
townsmen,  who  were  assembled  with  him  at  a 
husking  frolic.  The  nearness  of  the  Charlestown 
people  seemed  to  make  them  more  determined  in 
many  respects  than  were  the  patriots  in  the  dis- 
tant towns. 

In  order  to  encourage  the  production  and  man- 
ufacture of  woollens,  the  people  unanimously 
agreed  not  to  eat  or  even  suffer  any  lamb  to  be 
dressed  in  their  families  till  the  first  of  August. 

The  proclamation  of  Governor  Gage  forbidding 
town  meetings  did  not  deter  the  patriots  of  this 
town,  so  near  to  his  headquarters,  from  holding 


302  Be!^eath  old  roof  Trees 

their  meetings,  in  which  they  took  most  positive 
action.  But  the  records  fail  to  give  evidence  of 
the  military  preparation  that  was  made  elsewhere 
in  the  colonies.  They  had,  however,  a  way  of 
their  own,  which  was  adopted  on  Dec.  2,  1774, 
when  the  engine  companies  of  the  town,  three 
in  number,  voted  to  join  in  one  body  as  exempts, 
and  prepare  themselves  for  action.  They  chose 
their  officers,  and  voted  "that  every  man  be  pro- 
vided with  a  good  gun  and  bayonet,  with  an  iron 
ramrod."  Any  one  failing  to  do  this  within  one 
month  was  to  be  punished  by  paying  three  shil- 
lings. 

The  enforcement  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill  was  as 
trying  to  the  people  of  Charlestown  as  to  their 
neighbors  in  Boston.  Here  rents  declined,  the 
stores  were  closed,  travel  was  suspended,  and  dis- 
tress from  want  and  threatened  outbreaks  settled 
down  upon  the  people.  They  were  entitled  to 
share  with  Boston  in  the  donations  made  by  the 
country  towns  for  their  relief,  the  committee  be- 
ing directed  to  apply  seven  per  cent  of  the  amount 
that  poured  in  from  near  and  far  to  the  relief  of 
the  people  of  Charlestown. 

Notwithstanding  the  distress  of  the  patriots, 
they  would  not  render  assistance  to  the  Loyalists, 
even  though  they  were  offered  liberal  compensa- 
tion for  services.  Mechanics  refused  to  labor  in 
building  the  barracks  for  Gage's  army.  One  who 
for  years  had  mowed  his  Tory  neighbor's  hay  now 


CHARLESTOWN'S  DISTRESS  303 

refused —  "the  honest  scythe  would  not  cut  Tory 
grass,"  and  another's  oxen  "  would  not  plough 
Tory  ground." 

Many  citizens  of  the  town  abandoned  their 
homes,  as  did  Boston  people,  and  sought  shelter 
with  friends  in  the  country  towns ;  but  there  were 
many  who  were  forced  to  remain,  and  suffer  from 
want  of  the  necessities,  when  ordinarily  they  were 
classed  among  the  "  well-to-do  "  people  enjoying 
the  luxuries. 

The  other  colonies  were  prompt  and  liberal  in 
sending  aid,  so  much  so  as  to  receive  the  thanks 
of  the  Provincial  Congress,  passed  on  Nov.  30, 
1774.  The  towns  of  Connecticut  were  particu- 
larly favorable  towards  Charlestown,  and  rendered 
her  people  material  aid,  and  tendered  letters  of 
sympathy. 

Aid  came  from  various  localities  in  that  colony. 
How  much  of  it  was  due  to  the  perseverance  of 
Israel  Putnam  we  may  not  know ;  but  such  records 
appear  as  the  following  from  New  Britain  :  "  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  take  in  subscriptions 
of  Wheat,  Rye,  Indian  Corn,  and  other  provisions, 
and  to  transport  the  same  to  the  Town  of  Boston, 
to  be  distributed  by  the  Select  Men  to  those  who 
needed  help  in  consequence  of  the  blockade  of  the 
harbor." 

The  call  upon  the  towns  of  Massachusetts  of 
Dec.  6,  1774,  was  sent  to  the  ministers,  who 
made  the  appeal  to  their  people,  and  the  responses 


304  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

were  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  distressed  town  that 
others  were  not  unmindful  of  them.  A  letter 
dated  Charlestown,  Jan.   14,   1775,  reads:  — 

"  While  servile  placemen,  pensioners,  and  expectants  are 
employing  their  venal  pens  in  support  of  a  system  of  tyranny, 
the  honest  yeomanry  of  this  Province  are  joining  our  com- 
passionate brethren,"  etc. 

On  one  January  day  of  1775,  the  inhabitants  of 
Lexington  sent  sixty-one  loads  of  wood  and  some 
money  as  a  present  to  the  poor  sufferers  by  the 
Boston  Port  Bill ;  and  says  a  record  extant,  "  On 
Thursday  last  the  first  and  third  Parishes  of  Read- 
ing sent  twenty-seven  loads  of  wood,  some  money 
and  grain." 

These  recorded  donations  were  only  a  few  of 
the  many  that  came  from  the  towns  not  far  away 
in  Massachusetts  ;  and,  in  fact,  the  towns  of  south- 
ern New  Hampshire  were  prompt  in  responding 
to  the  calls  of  their  distressed  brethren,  —  the 
patriots  of  Boston  and  Charlestown.  These  acts 
were  not  without  some  signs  of  merriment  on  the 
part  of  the  giver,  and  receiver  as  well. 

While  I  have  looked  in  vain  for  a  dwelling  of 
pre-Revolutionary  days  in  Charlestown  (the  flames 
of  June  17  having  swept  them  away),  I  have 
been  gratified  in  meeting  those  who  tell  the  story 
of  that  town,  as  they  have  had  it  from  those  who 
participated  in  the  trying  scenes.  Mr.  William  P. 
Jones  of  Boston  says,  "  My  grandmother,  Mercy 


CHAKLESTOWN'S  DISTRESS  305 

Tufts  Boylston,  lived  at  the  Neck.  She  had  not 
fled  from  the  town  as  very  many  did,  but  remain- 
ing with  other  patriots  saw  what  in  days  of  peace 
she  loved  to  describe.  *  I  saw  long  processions  of 
teams  coming  in  from  the  country  loaded  down 
with  donations.  The  merrymaking  of  the  team- 
sters, and  the  grotesque  figures  displayed  on 
some  teams,  plainly  showed  that  "  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive."  On  one  of  the 
sleds  loaded  with  wood  from  Reading  was  hoisted 
the  Union  flag  with  the  following  inscription  in 
the  centre  :  — 

"  To   the  worthy    inhabitants   of  Boston    and   Charles- 
town  :  — 

*'  Ye  noble  patriots,  constant,  firm,  and  true. 
Your  country's  safety  much  depends  on  you. 
In  patient  suffering,  greatly  persevere ; 
From  cold,  from  famine,  you  have  naught  to  fear. 
With  tender  eye  the  country  views  your  woe ; 
With  your  distress  will  her  assistance  grow. 
Or  if  (which  Heaven  avert)  some  fatal  hour 
Should  force  you  from  your  homes  by  tyrant  power, 
To  her  retire,  —  with  open,  generous  heaut, 
All  needful  aid  and  comfort  she'll  impart ; 
Gladly  she'll  share  the  wealth  by  Heaven  bestown, 
With  those  for  her  who've  sacrificed  their  own.'" 

Said  Mrs.  Boylston,  "  Our  people  would  not 
allow  the  teamsters  to  return  to  their  homes 
without  being  entertained  at  some  tavern  where 
the  landlord  was  an  avowed  patriot.     Many  dain- 


306  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

ties  were  sent  with  the  teams  to  families  who 
were  connected  by  ties  of  blood  or  friendship,  and 
thus  the  sad  and  anxious  days  of  the  winter  of 
1774-5  were  passed. 

"  A  committee  of  distribution  was  kept  busy  in 
trying  to  make  a  just  division  of  the  patriotic  do- 
nations from  the  country.  At  a  meeting  held  on 
April  5,  forty-three  of  the  remaining  inhabitants 
were  relieved,  and  an  adjournment  for  two  weeks 
was  made.  They  were  to  meet  on  the  19th  of 
April,  at  five  o'clock  p.m.;  but  when  the  time 
arrived,"  said  Mrs.  Boylston,  "  there  were  other 
things  of  more  importance  that  demanded  their 
attention,  and  but  few  of  the  people  of  Charles- 
town  were  remaining  to  call  for  aid.  The  town, 
throughout  the  day,  presented  a  scene  of  intense 
excitement  and  confusion.  Although  Revere's 
trusted  friends  resided  on  that  side  of  the  Charles, 
the  stealthy  march  of  the  enemy  was  known  at  a 
distance  hours  before  the  patriots  of  Charles- 
town  received  the  alarming  news.  While  all 
was  in  confusion  in  towns  a  dozen  miles  away, 
the  schools  of  Charlestown  were  holding  their 
regular  session.  Rumors  were  received  in  the 
forenoon  of  the  events  at  Lexington,  but  no  cer- 
tain intelligence  reached  the  town  until  Dr.  War- 
ren galloped  down  from  the  scenes  of  blood  that 
he  had  witnessed  on  the  road.  It  was  then  that 
the  schools  were  dismissed,  and  excited  citizens 
gathered  in  groups  in  the  streets.     Many  of  the 


I 


CHARLESTOIVN'S  DISTRESS  307 

men  went  out  with  their  firearms  into  the  field, 
women  and  children  alone  remaining.  General 
Gage  sent  a  message  to  Hon.  James  Russell,  to 
the  effect  that  he  was  aware  that  armed  citizens 
had  gone  out  to  oppose  his  Majesty's  troops,  and 
that  if  more  went  he  would  lay  the  town  in  ashes. 
It  was  possible  to  quiet  the  excitement  in  a  meas- 
ure, until  the  report  came  that  the  Cambridge 
Bridge  had  been  taken  up,  and  consequently  the 
return  would  be  made  through  Charlestown.  It 
was  then  that  the  few  remaining  people  made 
haste  to  leave.  Rumors  not  so  well  founded  had 
so  often  been  received,  and  given  rise  to  needless 
anxiety,  that  some  of  the  people  discredited  this, 
until  they  heard  the  report  of  muskets  in  the  road 
above  the  town,  when  they  made  haste  towards 
the  Neck.  Some  got  across  the  Mystic  at  the 
ferry,  and  more  ran  along  the  marsh  towards  Med- 
ford.  The  dread  reality  was  apparent  at  about 
sunset.  The  troops  came  in  haste  and  confusion 
into  the  town.  The  first  of  her  sons  to  be  sacri- 
ficed was  a  boy,  Edward  Barber,  who  was  stand- 
ing in  a  house,  and  was  there  shot.  He  was  my 
cousin,"  said  Mrs.  Boylston,  "  and  would  have  es- 
caped if  our  people  had  obeyed  orders.  We  were 
told  that  no  harm  would  befall  us  if  the  army  was 
not  fired  upon.  A  careless,  excited  negro  dis- 
charged his  musket,  and  the  return  fire  killed  the 
inoffensive  boy.  Later,  there  was  killed  James 
Miller,  who  was  a  native  of  the    town,  born   in 


308  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

1709.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Lane  of  Bedford. 
She  had  fled  to  her  people,  the  patriots  of  that 
town,  where  she  received  the  sad  news  of  the 
death  of  her  husband,  who  had  thought  that  duty 
required  him  to  stand  by  the  town  in  her  time  of 
distress.  After  the  army  passed  through  the 
town,  the  inhabitants  who  were  near  turned  back 
to  seek  their  homes.  The  cry  that  '  the  British 
are  massacring  the  women  and  children,'  started 
from  the  shooting  of  the  Barber  boy,  created  a 
panic.  Some  remained  in  the  street  speechless 
with  terror.  The  army,  however,  offered  no  vio- 
lence to  the  people,  but  prevailed  upon  them  to 
go  to  their  homes,  where  they  would  be  safe,  ask- 
ing in  return  of  them  cold  water,  which  they 
freely  received.  The  officers  flocked  to  the  tav- 
ern in  the  Square,  and  got  such  refreshments  as 
they  could  secure.  With  the  night  there  came 
quiet,  save  from  the  wounded  and  disabled,  many 
of  whom  were  carried  across  the  river  during  the 
night  in  boats  belonging  to  the  warship  Somerset, 
that  was  hauled  into  Charles  River  on  the  14th, 
and  now  lay  between  the  ferryways.  My  observa- 
tions of  the  returning  troops,"  said  Mrs.  Boylston, 
"were  made  from  beneath  an  archway  in  our 
cellar,  to  which  we  retreated  upon  seeing  the 
approaching  army." 

The  rest  of  the  story  of  Charlestown  during  the 
hostilities  in  Massachusetts  is  familiarly  known  to 
all.     The  footprints  of  her  patriots  were  lost  in 


STO/iV  OF  REV.  JOSEPH   WHEELER         3O9 

the  ashes  that  alone  remained  to  remind  the  sor- 
rowing people  of  their  once  happy  homes.  It  was 
enough  that  her  green  hill  should  become  the 
sepulchre  of  hundreds  of  human  beings,  without  a 
slaughter  of  her  own  sons. 

In  the  Essex  Calendar  for  the  year  1776,  in 
the  month  of  June,  among  the  events  set  against 
the  corresponding  date  of  previous  years,  we 
read  :  — 

17th.  Bloody  bat.  of  Charlst.  where  were  k.  &  w.  324 
provincials,  1450  regulars;  there  were  destroyed  in 
Ch.  by  the  latter,  i  meeting-house,  350  dwelling- 
houses  and  150  other  buildings. 

STORY    OF    REV.  JOSEPH    WHEELER. 
Chaplain  in  Washington 's  army  at  Catnbridge. 

"Tell  us  a  story  of  Bunker  Hill,"  said  a  group 
of  bright-eyed  children,  as  they  gathered  around 
their  grandfather,  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler,  in  his 
home  in  Worcester. 

The  story  which  they  received  is  now  repeated 
by  one  of  the  group,  H.  W.  Wheeler  of  that  city, 
"  My  ancestor,  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler,  was  minis- 
ter of  the  church  in  Harvard,  Mass.,  from  the 
year  1759  to  1768,  when  impaired  health  com- 
pelled him  to  give  up  the  pastoral  office. 

"But  he  continued  to  live  in  the  town  until  1781, 
when  he  removed  to  Worcester,  where  he  resided 
till  his  death,  in  1793.  Although  not  the  acting 
clergyman  of  the  town  of  Harvard  during  the  try- 


310  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

ing  years  that  preceded  and  covered  the  Revolu- 
tion, Mr.  Wheeler  had  the  confidence  of  the 
patriots  of  that  town,  and  being  regarded  as  a 
man  of  superior  judgment,  was  chosen  their 
representative  in  many  important  conventions. 

"  He  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spondence of  that  town,  and  also  moderator  of  the 
town-meeting  which  assembled  on  Feb.  i8,  1773, 
for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  '  present  situa- 
tion.' 

"  As  might  be  expected,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  a 
member  of  the  first  and  third  Provincial  Con- 
gresses, and  represented  Harvard  in  the  General 
Court. 

"Although  not  able  to  endure  the  exposure  of 
a  soldier's  life  in  the  camp  during  the  siege  of 
Boston,  he  desired  to  aid  his  countrymen,  being 
a  firm  patriot ;  and  he  early  responded  to  the  call 
from  Cambridge,  and  after  General  Washington 
arrived  was  chaplain  to  the  commander-in-chief." 

The  story  to  the  anxious  children  from  the  hon- 
est lips  of  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler  was  as  follows : 
"  When  the  order  was  given  by  General  Artemas 
Ward  to  Colonel  Prescott  to  go  with  a  body  of 
men  to  Bunker  Hill,  to  throw  up  the  fortification, 
I  went  with  others  to  plan  out  the  works.  When 
the  breastwork  was  completed,  we  stood  under  an 
apple-tree  discussing  the  situation  and  prospect. 

"  It  was  at  the  early  dawn  of  the  17th  of  June ; 
our  situation  was  on  a  slope  of  the  hill  toward 


STORY  OF  HEP'.  JOSEPH  WHEELER        31I 

Boston.  While  standing  there  engaged  in  con- 
versation, we  were  perceived  by  the  men  on  one 
of  the  British  warships  lying  in  the  channel 
opposite,  and  were  made  a  target  for  one  of  their 
guns. 

"The  discharged  ball  went  over  our  heads,  and 
buried  itself  in  the  earth  a  short  distance  away. 
I  marked  the  spot  where  it  fell,  not  thinking  of 
what  was  soon  to  follow. 

"In  the  passage  of  the  ball  through  the  air,  a 
shoot  was  cut  from  a  limb  of  an  apple-tree  near  by, 
and,  dropping,  fell  near  my  feet.  I  picked  it  up 
and  took  it  away  with  me,  and  later  made  of  it  a 
walking-stick." 

"  This,"  says  Mr.  Wheeler,  "  has  been  handed 
down  in  the  family  as  the  Bunker  Hill  Cane,  and 
is  now  carefully  cherished  by  one  of  the  descend- 
ants living  in  Connecticut." 

"  But  how  about  that  cannon-ball  aimed  at  you, 
grandpa,"  said  one  of  the  listeners. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  minister,  "  after  the  battle  and 
the  destruction  of  the  town,  I  went  sorrowfully 
back,  found  the  place,  and  dug  it  out  of  the  earth, 
and  here  it  is.     Let  me  see  you  lift  it." 

They  all  tried,  and  many  failed,  and  so  have 
many  of  his  descendants  since  that  day. 

The  ball  is  to-day  owned  by  one  of  the  many 
who  proudly  trace  their  lineage  back  to  the  good 
minister  of  Harvard,  and  it  is  kept  as  a  pre- 
cious memento  in  a  home  in  the  city  of  Boston. 


312  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

WOBURn's      part.  THE      THOMPSON      FAMILY.  — 

COLONEL       LOAMMI       BALDWIN.  —  THE       WINN 

HOME.  A     ROMANCE     OF      WAR.  GENERAL 

gage's    EXCURSION    REPORTED    IN    1 775 

The  town  of  Woburn,  at  first  known  as  Charles- 
town  Village,  was  among  the  very  early  settlements 
of  the  colony.  Among  the  first  to  begin  the  Eng- 
lish settlement  there  was  James  Thompson,  who 
with  his  wife  and  children  came  to  New  England 
in  the  Winthrop  emigration  of  1630.  James 
Thompson  was  one  of  the  first  board  of  selectmen 
of  Woburn,  1644.  From  that  time  to  the  present 
the  name  of  Thompson  has  been  prominent  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  town. 

They  were  found  among  the  most  decided  pa- 
triots at  the  beginning  of  troubles  with  the  mother 
country. 

Early  in  1774  the  town  erected  a  house  for  the 
safe  keeping  of  their  stock  of  ammunition,  and 
procured  an  additional  stock,  "consisting  of  two 
barrels  of  powder,  and  bullets  and  flints  in  pro- 
portion, for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  town." 

When  the  memorable  alarm  was  given  in  the 
town,  it  met  with  a  ready  response.     But  two  days 


WOB URN'S  PART  313 

before  the  outbreak  the  people  had  taken  action 
for  organizing  a  company  of  minute-men,  and  con- 
sequently could  not  have  been  under  very  good 
military  discipline,  only  as  they  had  been  drilled 
in  the  customary  manner  of  playing  soldier,  or 
had  caught  the  military  spirit  from  those  who  had 
done  service  in  the  earlier  wars. 

When  but  a  child,  moved  by  curiosity  to  meet 
a  centenarian,  I  went  with  many  people  to  the 
home  of  Mrs.  Betsey  Taylor  in  the  town  of  Bur- 
lington, Mass.  ;  and  among  others  of  the  aged 
woman's  personal  reminiscences  I  gathered  that 
of  April  19,  1775.  She  was  then  a  child  of  eleven 
years.  "  A  messenger  sent  by  Captain  Joshua 
Walker,  who  commanded  the  military  company  of 
Woburn  precinct,  came  to  my  father,  Mr.  Jonathan 
Proctor,  the  drummer  of  the  company,  to  beat  an 
alarm  as  soon  as  possible,  for  the  redcoats  were 
on  the  move." 

The  manner  of  spreading  the  alarm  in  the  pre- 
cinct we  may  infer  was  the  same  as  that  which 
called  the  people  to  action  in  the  main  part  of 
Woburn ;  and  turning  to  the  old  Thompson  home- 
stead, to  the  ancient  hearthstone  in  North  Woburn, 
we  listen  to  the  story  of  the  movements  of  that 
family,  as  now  related  by  Rev.  Leander  Thomp- 
son, a  grandson  of  one  who  participated  :  "  Sam- 
uel, Daniel,  and  Abijah  Thompson  were  sons 
of  Samuel  and  Ruth  (Wright)  Thompson.  They 
were  all  born  in  North  Woburn,  in  a  house  still 


314  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

standing,  and  still  occupied  by  a  great-grandson 
of  Samuel.  When  the  Revolutionary  War  com- 
menced they  were  all  married,  and  had  young 
families  around  them.  Daniel  lived  about  one 
mile  from  the  others,  on  the  road  to  Woburn 
Centre.  On  hearing  in  the  early  morning  of 
April  19  of  the  march  of  the  British  towards 
Concord,  the  family  tradition  is,  that  he  instantly 
sprang  upon  the  bare  back  of  his  horse,  and  ran 
with  speed  to  rouse  the  people  of  North  Village. 
Only  one  man  of  those  he  met  hesitated ;  and 
when  that  one  asked  him  if  he  were  not  too  hasty, 
and  exposing  himself  to  great  danger,  he  instantly 
replied,  '  I  tell  you  that  our  tyrants  are  on  their 
march  to  destroy  our  stores,  and  if  no  one  else 
opposes  them,  Izvill!  Immediately  hurrying  away 
to  the  scene  of  action,  he  boldly  took  his  position, 
and  poured  his  fire  into  the  ranks  of  the  British. 
On  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  he  took  a  station 
near  the  road,  stepping  behind  a  barn  to  load  ; 
then  advancing  around  a  corner  of  the  building, 
he  fired  diagonally  through  the  platoons  of  the 
enemy,  thus  making  every  shot  effectual.  A  gren- 
adier who  watched  his  movements  was  so  enraged 
that  he  ran  around  the  corner  of  the  barn,  and  shot 
him  dead  on  the  spot  while  he  was  in  the  act  of 
reloading  his  gun, 

"Tradition  says  that  a  well-directed  ball  from 
another  Woburn  gun  prevented  the  grenadier 
from  ever   rejoining  his  comrades.      It   has  ever 


THE    THOMPSON  FAMIL  Y  3 1 5 

been  supposed  that  the  avenger  was  one  of  the 
brothers  of  Daniel  Thompson,  and  that  the  Brit- 
ish gun  for  many  years  was  treasured  in  the 
Thompson  family. 

"  The  two  brothers  of  Daniel  whom  he  particu- 
larly desired  to  arouse  had  immediately  seized 
their  muskets,  and  hurried  away  also  to  the 
scene  of  action.  Samuel,  the  eldest  of  the  three, 
charged  his  boy  Jonathan,  fifteen  years  of  age,  as 
he  left,  to  be  a  good  boy,  and  take  good  care  of 
his  mother.  But  the  father  had  hardly  more  than 
gone  before  the  boy  borrowed  an  old  musket  and 
a  horn  of  powder,  and  taking,  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  family,  the  leaden  weights  of  the 
scales,  ran  them  into  bullets  at  a  neighboring 
shop ;  and  thus  armed  and  equipped,  he,  too,  set 
off  for  Concord.  He  arrived  at  the  scene  of 
action  just  as  the  enemy  began  their  retreat. 
Noticing  that  the  method  of  annoyance  employed 
by  his  countrymen  was  that  of  gaining  the  head 
of  the  retreating  column  by  a  circuitous  route, 
and  then  from  a  favorable  position  previously 
chosen  pouring  their  shot  among  the  ranks  till 
all  had  passed,  he  did  the  same.  In  one  of  these 
circuits,  to  their  mutual  surprise,  he  met  his 
father,  who  at  once  exclaimed,  *  Why,  Jonathan, 
are  you  here  }  Well,  take  care  of  yourself.  Your 
Uncle  Daniel  has  been  killed.  Be  prudent,  my 
son,  and  take  care  of  yourself.'  Father  and  son 
then  each   pursued   his  way.     The  son   followed 


3l6  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

the  retreating  enemy  to  Menotofny,  from  which 
place  he  crossed  over  to  Medford,  where  with 
others,  all  of  whom  were  excessively  fatigued,  he 
sought  repose  in  a  barn,  reaching  home  safely 
early  the  following  morning. 

"Abijah,  the  youngest  of  the  three  brothers, 
also  immediately  hastened  from  home  to  the 
scene  of  action,  in  which  he  bore  a  conspicuous 
part  till  he  was  deputed  to  convey  the  sad  news 
of  Daniel's  death  to  his  distracted  family  in 
Woburn. 

"  The  two  brothers  who  survived  the  conflict, 
and  also  the  boy  of  fifteen  years,  were  subse- 
quently regular  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army, 
and  after  the  declaration  of  peace  became  highly 
enterprising,  useful,  and  respected  citizens  of 
Woburn." 

The  Thompsons  were  among  the  many  patriots 
who  without  military  order  made  haste  across  the 
towns,  and  intercepted  the  enemy  below  "  Mer- 
riam's  Corner." 

Of  the  many,  Daniel  Thompson,  already  men- 
tioned, and  Asahel  Porter,  whose  name  appears 
on  the  Lexington  monument,  were  all  who  per- 
ished on  that  day  of  the  Woburn  men.  Three 
others  were  wounded. 

Rev.  Leander  Thompson  also  says,  "  Asahel 
Porter  and  Josiah  Richardson  set  out  for  Boston 
market  during  the  night  of  April  i8;  and  when 
near  Menotomy,  the  present  town  of  Arlington, 


THE    THOMPSON  FAMILY  317 

being  on  the  route  the  British  had  taken,  they 
were  halted  by  the  enemy,  deprived  of  the  horses 
they  rode,  and  forced  to  accompany  their  captors 
to  Lexington  as  prisoners  of  war.  They  were 
released  just  as  the  firing  on  the  Common  began, 
on  condition  that  they  were  to  leave  without 
making  themselves  conspicuous  by  running,  un- 
der penalty  of  being  shot.  Porter  disobeyed,  and 
after  walking  a  few  steps  began  to  quicken  pace, 
and  was  shot  dead.  His  body  was  found  by  Amos 
and  Ebenezer  Locke  as  it  lay  by  the  side  of  a 
stone  wall." 

The  Salem  Gazette  of  that  period  affords  a 
glimpse  of  the  sorrow  that  followed  the  memora- 
ble  19th  in  Woburn. 

"  Same  day  [Friday,  April  21],  the  remains  of  Messrs. 
Asahel  Porter  and  Daniel  Thompson  of  Woburn,  who  also 
fell  victims  to  tyranny,  were  decently  interred  at  that  place, 
attended  to  the  grave  by  a  multitude  of  persons,  who  assem- 
bled on  the  occasion  from  that  and  the  neighboring  towns. 
Before  they  were  interred,  a  very  suitable  sermon  and 
prayer  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.   Mr.   Sherman."  ^ 

Standing  by  the  grave  of  Daniel  Thompson, 
with  naught  to  recall  the  multitude  who  gathered 
about  the  open  grave  save  the  leaning,  moss- 
grown  slabs,  I  copied  the  following,  while  the 
eye  moistened  from  sympathy  for  the  widow  and 
children  :  — 

^  Brother  of  Roger  Sherman  of  Connecticut. 


3l8  BENEATH  OlD  ROOE   TREES 

HERE   LIES   BURIED   THE   BODY   OF 

MR.    DANIEL   THOMPSON, 

WHO  WAS  SLAIN  IN  CONCORD  BATTLE  ON  YE  I9TH  OF  APRIL, 

1775,    AGED   40   YEARS. 

Here,  Passenger ,  confined,  Reduced  to  dust, 
Lies  what  was  once  Religious,  wise  and  just. 
The   Cause  he  engaged  did  attimate  him  high. 
Namely,  —  Religion  a7id  dear  Liberty, 
Steady  and  warm  in  labertie's  defence. 
True  to  his  Country,  Loyal  to  His  Prince, 
Though  in  his  Breast  a  thirst  for  glory  fir'd. 
Although  he^s  gone  his  name  Embalmed  shall  be 
And  had  in  Everlasting  memory. 

The  name  of  Asahel  Porter  is  read,  not  only  on 
the  Lexington  Monument,  but  on  a  marble  slab 
erected  at  his  supposed  grave,  on  the  centennial 
of  his  death,  by  Post  33,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Woburn. 

The  patriots  of  to-day,  appreciating  the  bless- 
ings of  liberty,  turn  aside  from  the  busy  scenes  of 
the  modern  city  of  Woburn  to  her  ancient  burial- 
ground,  and  there  seek  out  the  graves  of  two 
brave  men  who  so  early  fell  victims  of  tyranny. 

Sylvanus  Wood,  alluded  to  in  our  Lexington 
story  in  this  volume,  was  another  prominent  pa- 
triot from  Woburn.  His  narrative,  given  under 
oath,  was,  in  brief,  that  he  lived  with  Deacon 
Obadiah  Kendall,  about  three  miles  from  Lexing- 
ton. The  bell  of  that  town  aroused  him  at  an 
early  hour;  and,  fearing  there  was  trouble,  he 
arose,  took  his  gun,  and  with  Robert  Douglass 
made  haste  to   Lexington,  where  he   found   the 


COLONEL   LOAMMI  BALDWIN  319 

company  assembled.  By  invitation  of  Captain 
Parker,  he  (Wood)  and  Douglass  also  joined  in 
the  ranks,  shared  in  the  experience  at  the  Com- 
mon, and  hastened  on  to  Concord,  after  assist- 
ing in  carrying  the  dead  into  the  meeting-house. 
When  near  Viles's  Tavern  in  Lexington  he  cap- 
tured a  British  soldier  as  prisoner. 

William  Tay,  Jr.,  made  oath  to  a  statement  of 
his  experience.  He  claimed  to  have  been  in  the 
throng  of  countrymen  who  pursued  the  enemy  to 
Charlestown.  While  nearing  the  latter  place,  he 
and  others  were  passing  a  house,  and  were  fired 
upon  by  three  of  the  enemy  who  were  hiding 
there.  He  with  his  party  returned  the  fire,  killing 
two  of  the  British,  and  capturing  the  third  by 
seizing  him  bodily,  and  cuffing  him  until  he  gladly 
surrendered.  He  claimed  that  he  was  deprived 
of  his  just  credit  by  some  other  American,  who 
carried  away  the  military  equipments  of  the  trio 
of  the  enemy,  and  thus  he  lost  the  evidence  of 
what  he  had  bravely  done. 

The  most  notable  patriot  of  the  town  was  Colo- 
nel Loammi  Baldwin.  His  military  service  began 
as  early  as  1768,  when,  in  his  twenty-fourth  year, 
he  is  credited  as  enlisting  in  His  Excellency's 
Troop  of  Horse  Guards,  in  command  of  Colonel 
David  Phips.  By  this  it  seems  he  was  not  en- 
tirely without  experience  when  he  was  called  into 
service  as  a  patriot  of  Woburn.  Extracts  from 
the  diary  of  such  a  man  cannot  fail  to  interest  and 


320  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

instruct  every  one  who  has  a  just  appreciation  of 
the  republic  which  Colonel  Baldwin  did  so  much 
towards  successfully  establishing  :  — 

1775,  April  19.  Wednesday.  This  morning  a  little  be- 
fore break  of  day,  we  were  alarmed  by  Mr.  Stedman's  Ex- 
press from  Cambridge.  Informed  us  that  the  Regulars  were 
upon  the  move  for  Concord.  We  mustered  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible. The  Town  turned  out  extraordinary,  and  proceeded 
toward  Lexington.  I  rode  along  a  little  before  the  main 
body,  and,  when  I  was  nigh  Jacob  Reed's  I  heard  a  great 
firing;  proceeded  on, — soon  heard  that  the  Regulars  had 
fired  upon  Lexington  people,  and  killed  a  large  number  of 
them.  We  proceeded  on  as  fast  as  possible  and  came  to 
Lexington,  and  saw  about  8  or  10  dead  and  numbers  wounded. 
.  .  .  We  proceeded  to  Concord  by  way  of  Lincoln  meet- 
ing-house, .  .  .  ascended  the  hill,  and  pitched  and  refreshed 
ourselves  a  little.  .  .  .  The  people  under  my  command  and 
also  some  others  came  running  off  the  East  end  of  the  hill 
while  I  was  at  a  house,  and  we  proceeded  down  the  road,  and 
could  see  behind  us  the  Regulars  following.  We  came  to 
Tanner  Brook  at  Lincoln  Bridge,  and  then  concluded  to 
scatter  and  make  use  of  trees  and  walls  for  to  defend  us,  and 
attack  them.  We  did  so  and  pursued  on,  flanking  them,  till 
we  came  to  Lexington.  I  had  several  good  shots.  The 
enemy  marched  very  fast,  and  left  many  dead  and  wounded 
and  a  few  tired.  I  proceeded  on  till  coming  between  the 
meeting-house  and  Buckman's  Tavern  with  a  prisoner  before 
me,  when  the  cannon  began  to  play,  the  balls  flew  near  me, 
I  judged  not  more  than  2  yards  off.  I  immediately  retreated 
back  behind  the  meeting-house,  and  had  not  been  there  ten 
seconds  before  a  ball  come  through  the  meeting-house  near 
my  head.  I  retreated  back  towards  the  meadow,  north  of 
the  meeting-house,  and  lay  and  heard  the  balls  in  the  air 
and  saw  them  strike  the  ground. 


COLONEL   LOAM  MI  BALDWIN  $21 

It  is  inferred  that  he  was  then  an  officer.  We 
later  find  that  he  enlisted  in  the  regiment  under 
command  of  Colonel  Samuel  Gerrish,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  office  of  lieutenant-colonel  on  June 
1 6.  On  the  memorable  17th  he  was  designated  as 
the  field-officer  of  the  main  guard. 

He  was  stationed  for  a  time  at  Chelsea,  and 
writes  his  wife  from  there  on  March  6,  1776:  — 

"  I  have  had  much  to  do,  constantly  keeping  a  party  on 
Noddle's  Island  for  spies  to  discover  all  the  movements  of 
the  enemy." 

A  clause  in  this  letter  furnishes  evidence,  in  ad- 
dition to  that  of  General  Ward,  of  the  preparations 
of  the  patriots  for  an  attack,  which  was  prevented 
by  the  evacuation  of  Boston  on  the  17th  of  March, 
the  letter  being  dated  eleven  days  before  it :  — 

"  Our  works  on  Dorchester  Hills  are  completing  as  fast  as 
possible.  The  enemy's  ships  are  all  drawn  up  in  line  of 
battle  before  them,  but  are  very  quiet  at  present." 

Colonel  Baldwin  was  commissioned  as  such  on 
Jan.  I,  1776.  His  regiment  was  known  as  the 
Twenty-sixth. 

He  was  ordered  to  follow  General  Washington 
to  New  York.  The  route  taken  is  indicated  by 
a  letter  from  the  colonel,  under  date  of  April  i, 
1776,  at  Grafton,  Mass.     He  writes,  — 

"  I  have  this  moment  received  orders  to  alter  the  route, 
and  go  to  Providence,  R.I." 


322  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF   TREES 

Two  days  later,  he  writes  from  Providence  that 
he  is  quartered  with  his  regiment  in  the  college. 
On  the  6th  he  reports  to  his  wife,  — 

"  I  have  this  moment  arrived  at  Norwich,  after  a  march  of 
eight  days.  ...  I  have  just  received  orders  to  continue  my 
march  to  New  London,  where  I  expect  to  embark  for  New 
York." 

April  lo  brings  a  letter  to  his  wife  from  New 
York,  in  which  he  gives  his  impressions  of  the 
place,  etc.  On  the  19th  he  sums  up  the  service 
of  a  full  year  in  the  army.  On  the  28th  of  April 
he  writes  :  — 

"  I  know  not  when  we  shall  leave  New  York  ;  we  go  into 
tents  this  week.  The  encampment  for  my  regiment  is  laid 
out  near  the  Jews'  burying-ground,  joining  the  northerly 
part  of  the  city.  The  army  is  healthy.  I  have  just  returned 
from  hearing  the  last  of  two  of  the  best  sermons  (I  think) 
that  I  ever  heard  in  my  life,  preached  this  day  to  my  regi- 
ment and  some  others,  at  Dr.  Rogers's  meeting-house,  the 
afternoon  sermon  preached  by  the  doctor  himself." 

July  14,  with  other  things,  he  writes :  "  General  Heath  is 
this  moment  come  to  camp.  He  informs  me  that  a  flag  of 
truce  from  Lord  How,  newly  arrived  from  England,  brother 
of  General  How,  with  a  packet,  or  single  letter,  directed  to 
'  George  Washington,  Esq.,'  was  rejected  and  sent  back  on 
account  of  the  direction.  I  suppose  the  generals  insist  upon 
its  being  directed  to  '  His  Excellency,  George  Washington, 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States.'  So 
we  know  nothing  of  the  contents  of  the  letter." 

Letters  now  begin  to  reveal  the  declining  health 
of  the  colonel ;  but  he  continues  in  service  until 


COLONEL   LOAMMI  BALDWIN  323 

the  opening  of  the  year  1777,  during  which  time 
he  notes  many  changes,  among  them  being  the 
battle  of  White  Plains. 

Dec.  19,  he  reports  to  his  wife  from  "Camp,  5  miles 
west  of  the  Delaware,  and  30  miles  above  Philadelphia.'' 
"  If  I  were  at  home,  I  should  think  myself  sick  enough  to 
keep  house,  but  here  feel  myself  in  good  spirits.  .  .  .  On  the 
3d  inst.  marched  from  Peekskill  for  King's  Ferry.  Very 
rainy  all  day.  Crossed  the  river  just  before  night.  Pitched 
our  tents  in  New  Jersey,  by  the  side  of  the  mountains,  took 
my  lodgings  in  a  common  tent  upon  the  wet  ground ;  very 
cold,  there  being  no  house  to  go  to.  In  the  night  the  rain 
increased,  and  the  flood  came  down  from  the  mountains,  and 
ran  in  torrents  among  and  through  the  tents,  and  almost 
washed  them  away.  I  had  no  bed  nor  blanket,  except  a  thin 
piece  of  drugget." 

Colonel  Baldwin  lived  in  Woburn  until  Oct.  20, 
1807,  when  he  was  lamented  by  his  townsmen 
and  by  all  who  knew  him  as  a  true  patriot  and 
good  citizen. 


It  is  noticeable  that  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
was  largely  fought,  on  the  side  of  the  Americans, 
by  men  from  a  distance,  the  nearest  towns  being 
but  sparsely  represented.  The  evidence  of  Wo- 
burn's  part  is  mostly  incidental.  Rev.  Mr.  Mar- 
rett,  quoted  at  length  in  connection  with  the 
"  Parson  and  Parsonage,"  recorded  —  that  the 
day  was  Saturday,  and  "  fair,  and  very  warm  and 
drying."     The  following  day,  Sabbath,  he  had  a 


324  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

"very  thin  meeting,"  "the  men  gone  down  to  the 
army  on  the  alarm  yesterday."  On  June  22,  fol- 
lowing, the  weather  being  fair  and  drying,  in  the 
morning  the  good  minister  of  the  precinct  was 
"at  home,"  but  in  the  afternoon  attended  the  fu- 
neral of  Samuel  Russell,  aged  twenty-one,  belong- 
ing in  the  first,  or  old,  parish,  who  had  died,  hav- 
ing been  "mortally  wounded  in  the  battle  at 
Charlestown."  On  the  following  26th  of  the 
same  month,  he  attended  the  funeral  of  George 
Reed,  Jr.,  "who  died  of  a  fever,  which  was  occa- 
sioned by  a  surfeit,  or  heat,  he  got  in  Charlestown 
fight  on  the  17th  instant." 


The  horrors  of  war  were  not  confined  to  san- 
guinary action,  or  that  which  it  inflicts  upon  the 
camp  ;  but  the  ravages  of  small-pox  frequently  ac- 
companied the  movements  of  the  army.  It  broke 
out  in  Woburn  in  the  spring  of  1775,  when  many 
died,  and  more  suffered  from  the  malady,  which 
never  failed  to  leave  its  loathsome  effects. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Joseph  Winn  seems  to  have 
been  the  seat  of  this  disease.  Possibly  a  pest- 
house  was  established  there,  the  location  being 
at  a  distance  from  the  general  settlement. 

The  Winn  estate  is  one  of  the  few  in  Woburn 
that  has  never  left  the  possession  of  the  family. 
For  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  the  fam- 
ily has  been  represented  at  this  place,  the  name 


A   ROMANCE   OF   WAR  325 

being  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  settle- 
ment in  its  entirety.  The  present  home  is  on  the 
border  of  the  town  of  Burlington  (Woburn  pre- 
cinct), and  is  occupied  by  John  Winn.  It  was 
built  by  Joseph,  of  the  third  generation,  in  1734; 
and  while  subsequent  generations  have  "vexed 
the  antiquity  "  of  the  colonial  residence,  there  is 
much  remaining  to  keep  green  the  memory  of  the 
family  at  the  old  homestead ;  while  the  Woburn 
library,  a  gift  from  the  late  Bowers  Winn,  is  a  fit- 
ting monument  to  the  whole  family. 

The  Winns  were  stanch  supporters  of  the  pa- 
triot cause.  Deacon  Timothy  was  a  representa- 
tive for  many  years  from  Woburn  to  the  General 
Court.  Joseph  Winn,  the  great-grandfather  of 
John,  the  present  owner,  who  is  of  the  sixth  gen- 
eration, was  among  the  Woburn  patriots  who 
were  early  astir  on  the  morning  of  April  19,  1775. 
The  musket  which  served  him  on  that  day  is  a 
treasured  reminder  of  the  patriot  ancestor,  and 
is  kept  at  the  old  homestead. 

A    ROMANCE    OF    WAR. 

To  say  that  more  than  fifty  by  the  name  of 
Richardson  are  credited  with  service  in  the  Rev- 
olution from  the  town  of  Woburn  is  sufficient 
evidence  of  the  family  location.  Allowing  that 
in  some  instances  one  may  appear  in  several  cam- 
paigns, there  are  still  enough  remaining  to  prompt 


326  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

the  observer  to  think  of  that  early  settlement  as 
Richardson-town,  In  the  christening-record  of 
this  long  list,  a  fine  array  of  Bible-  names  appears. 
There  are  Jacobs  many ;  Zachariahs  and  Zadoks ; 
Calebs  and  Joshuas  in  faithful  union  ;  Paul,  Silas, 
and  Barnabas  closely  allied  ;  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke, 
and  John  often  repeated.  So  numerous  are  all 
these  that  it  would  require  a  skilful  genealogist 
to  decide  to  which  generation  an  individual  shall 
be  assigned.  Reference  to  the  old  burial-ground 
of  1642,  "  In  which  are  buried  the  ancestors  of 
Presidents  Pierce,  Cleveland,  and  Harrison,"  is 
of  but  little  assistance ;  for  so  strangely  are  these 
rudely  carved  slabs  backed  up  to  one  another, 
that  the  most  reverent  visitor  is  inclined  to 
the  belief  that  some  of  these  heroes  must  have 
given  up  life  in  a  vain  attempt  to  establish  their 
identity,  and  their  executors  resorted  to  this 
method  of  giving  them  a  post-mortem  individual- 
ity, which  they  were  denied  in  life.  Even  a  frown 
seems  to  cloud  the  grim  death's  head  on  the  rude 
stone  at  the  grave  of  "  Ye  Reverend  Mr.  Jabez 
Fox,"  tottering  as  it  is  in  the  midst  of  this  confu- 
sion of  Richardsons.  But  even  here  military  au- 
thority seems  to  assert  itself,  as  we  read  on  a 
well-kept  slab  occupying  a  slight  elevation:  — 

HERE   LYES   BURIED 

YE   BODY   OF   MAJOR   JAMES    CONVERS,    ESQR. 

AGED   61    YEARS 

WHO   DEPARTED   THIS   LIFE   IVLY    I /8tH    1706. 


A   ROMANCE   OF   IVA/i  327 

I  had  a  word  of  approval  upon  my  lips  for  the 
authorities  of  this  early  settlement,  because  they 
did  not  follow  the  example  of  some,  and  rob 
these  ancient  sepulchres  of  their  identity,  by 
arranging  the  rude  memorials  in  parallel  rows, 
when  I  chanced  to  observe  a  stone  that  brought 
forth  a  word  of  approbation  for  a  branch  of  the 
Richardson    family   that    had   dared   to   face  the 

reverend  Mr. at  the  baptismal  basin,  and  say 

that  the  child  should  be  called  Ichabod. 

This  stone  itself  stands  as  direct  evidence  of  the 
fallacy  of  the  superstitious  members  of  the  family, 
who  hid  their  faces  when  the  minister  laid  his 
hand  upon  the  little  head  of  three  days,  and  sol- 
emnly said,  "  Ichabod,  I  baptize  thee  in  the  name 
of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost."  That  their  prediction,  "won't  live  long," 
uttered  with  subdued  voice  when  leaving  the  meet- 
ing-house, was  not  verified  is  apparent  from  the 
stone  :  — 

HERE    LYES   BURIED 

THE   BODY   OF   MR.    ICHABOD    RICHARDSON, 

WHO   DEPARTED   THIS   LIFE 

MAY   THE    I2TH,    1 768,    IN   THE   63D   YEAR   OF   HIS   AGE. 

One  departure  from  the  list  of  family  names 
did  not  prove  disastrous ;  and  when  Ichabod  first 
had  lived  prosperously  for  forty  years,  they  ven- 
tured to  repeat  the  act,  and  Ichabod,  with  Sarah 
his  wife,  carried  their  first  born  to  the  altar,  and 
there  had  the  seal  of  the  covenant  placed  upon 


328  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

him,  and  his  name  declared  to  be  Ichabod.  "  Such 
wrong-doing  may  be  forgiven  once  or  twice," 
thought  some  of  the  kin,  "  but  persistence  in  it 
must  bring  trouble."  It  was  in  Januar)'^,  1771, 
that  the  record  of  the  birth  of  the  third  Ichabod 
was  made.  That  he  had  the  cradle  unmolested 
when  the  Revolution  broke  out  was  ominous  to 
the  family  prophets,  who  kept  well  prepared  for 
the  worst.  When  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775, 
called  scores  of  the  family  from  their  peaceful 
homes,  among  whom  was  Ichabod,  it  was  a  fore- 
gone conclusion  that  he  would  never  return  ;  but 
when  the  Richardsons  returned  alive,  and  it  was 
two  of  their  neighbors  who  fell,  there  was  occa- 
sion for  the  exercise  of  sympathy  in  another  direc- 
tion. 

The  roar  of  the  cannonading  of  Bunker  Hill, 
distinctly  heard  in  the  Woburn  homes,  caused  the 
ominous  wag  of  many  a  head  ;  but  the  safe  re- 
turn of  Ichabod  brought  joy  and  thanksgiving  to 
reunited  families.  Some  thoughtfully  pondered 
over  the  familiar  clause  of  Scripture,  "visiting  the 
iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generation  of  them  that  hate 
me." 

Ichabod  Richardson,  the  father,  was  now 
twenty-eight  years  of  age.  It  seemed  apparent 
that  every  able-bodied  man  must  enter  the  service 
of  the  colonies,  or  all  must  become  slaves  of  the 
haughty  King  George  III.     Ichabod  "did  a  turn" 


A   ROMANCE   OF  WAR  329 

in  the  besieging  army  at  Cambridge;  but  the  dull 
routine  of  camp-life  was  too  monotonous  for  him. 
He  had  always  felt  a  longing  for  the  sea.  When  a 
boy,  he  had  stolen  many  times  away  from  home, 
down  to  the  shores  of  the  Mystic,  and  watched 
the  movements  of  the  sailors  on  the  small  craft 
that  came  up  to  the  town  ;  in  fact,  he  had  been  to 
the  top  mast  himself,  and  become  quite  familiar 
with  the  terms  so  freely  used  by  the  sailors.  Burn- 
ing with  indignation  for  the  oppression  that  was 
heaped  upon  the  people,  and  with  an  ardent  desire 
to  serve  the  colonial  cause,  Ichabod  decided  to 
enter  the  service  upon  the  water.  He  enlisted  as 
a  Provincial  privateersman.  The  sorrow  in  the 
Richardson  home  at  the  parting  was  only  such 
as  cast  its  shadow  over  almost  every  patriot  home 
in  the  colonies.  There  was  no  time  to  devote  to 
tears,  and  the  last  hours  were  spent  by  the  faith- 
ful wife  in  making  the  best  preparations  for  the 
comfort  of  the  husband  and  father. 

We  may  well  imagine  the  inquiring  words  of 
little  Ichabod,  now  past  five  years  of  age,  as  he 
saw  the  warm  stockings  rolled  up,  the  best  home- 
made blanket  folded,  and,  with  other  comforts, 
made  into  a  rude  bundle.  These  strange  prepara- 
tions served  to  amuse  the  child,  while  they  brought 
sorrow  to  the  wife  and  mother.  Shouldering  the 
tear-sprinkled  bundle,  Ichabod  Richardson  bade 
farewell  to  his  young  wife  and  son,  and  with  a 
sorrowful  but  bold  purpose  set  sail  on  a  voyage 


330  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

of  uncertainty.  He  was  not  out  of  sight  of  his 
native  land  before  he  was  seized  upon  by  peculiar 
emotions  that  had  never  disturbed  his  manly 
heart  before.  The  devotion  of  wife,  and  clinging, 
childish  affection  of  son,  were  to  him  now  more  of 
a  reality  than  when  he  was  in  the  immediate  enjoy- 
ment of  them.  It  was  too  late  to  turn  back,  un- 
manly to  weep,  he  thought ;  so  he  vainly  tried  to 
bury  his  sorrow  in  the  hilarity  of  the  life  of  the 
ordinary  privateersman.  He  fancied  an  early 
return,  when,  loaded  with  bounty,  he  should  sit 
down  at  home  to  share  his  luxuries  with  his  loved 
ones.  Theirs  was  a  swift-sailing  vessel,  manned 
entirely  by  men  from  the  towns  about  Woburn  ; 
the  voyage  was  a  prosperous  one,  and  they  were 
soon  cruising  about  the  English  Channel.  Several 
richly  laden  vessels  from  British  ports  were  dis- 
cerned, and  pursued  by  the  American  privateer, 
but  made  good  their  escape.  When  the  flush  of 
immediate  success  was  over,  they  espied  one,  and 
lost  no  time  in  the  chase.  They  bore  down  upon 
her,  and  soon  had  her  in  their  power.  The  Brit- 
ish vessel  made  a  show  of  resistance,  but  was 
soon  overcome,  the  crew  surrendered  as  prisoners, 
and  the  rich  freight  was  the  property  of  the 
American  privateersmen.  They  lost  no  time  in 
making  for  the  coast  of  France  to  find  a  safe 
refuge.  They  had  scarcely  time  to  realize  that 
they  were  in  possession  of  a  rich  prize,  when  a 
British  man-of-war  came  upon  them,  and  not  only 


A   ROMANCE   OF  WAR  33 1 

recaptured  the  vessel  so  recently  freighted  at 
their  own  shore,  but  the  American  privateer  as 
well.  A  few  hours  before  they  were  in  the  jubi- 
lant possession  of  wealth,  but  now  prisoners  of 
war,  in  irons.  Alas  for  Ichabod  !  Now,  as  never 
before,  the  vision  of  that  happy  reunion  faded 
from  sight;  and  all  hope  vanished  when  they  were 
landed,  and  confined  in  an  English  prison.  Icha- 
bod Richardson,  with  other  American  sailors,  was 
committed  to  Forton  prison,  near  Portsmouth,  on 
June  26,  1777.  He  was  one  of  a  second  company 
of  like  unfortunates  who  were  confined  at  that 
place. 

The  sorrow  of  that  Woburn  family  was  not 
alone  on  the  part  of  the  husband  and  father. 
Time  dragged  slowly  in  the  home.  The  weeks 
of  hopeful  expectation  lapsed  into  months  of  evil 
forebodings.  When  the  north-east  storm  beat 
against  the  windows  of  the  lonely  home,  it  brought 
to  the  anxious  wife  and  mother  visions  of  a  dis- 
mantled ship  tossing  about  upon  the  angry  waves 
of  the  restless  ocean.  Then  the  mother  pressed 
the  son  more  closely  to  her  bosom  in  the  vain  en- 
deavor to  lose  herself  in  sleep.  As  the  little  boy 
prattled  by  her  side  in  the  warmth  of  the  mid-day 
sun,  Mrs.  Richardson  tried  to  comfort  herself  by 
detecting  in  him  movements  and  developing  fea- 
tures that  reminded  her  of  the  absent  one.  As 
the  separation  was  extended  to  years,  the  suspense 
culminated,  to  her,  in  the  death  of  her  husband. 


332  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF  TREES 

She  patiently  acquiesced  in  what  she  thought 
to  be  the  will  of  God.  She  mourned  Ichabod  as 
dead,  and  taught  her  growing  son  to  speak  of  his 
father  as  safe  in  the  heavenly  kingdom.  There 
were  those  who,  in  the  expression  of  their  sympa- 
thy, did  not  fail  to  whisper  to  the  neighbors,  "  I 
expected  it." 

It  was  when  the  sorrow  hung  the  most  heavily 
over  the  home  of  Ichabod  Richardson  that  his 
Cousin  Josiah  was  called  upon  to  part  with  his 
wife.  The  many  relatives  bowed  submissively  in 
this  sorrow,  regarding  it  as  the  loving  act  of  a 
kind  heavenly  Father.  The  tears  of  Sarah,  the 
supposed  widow,  were  freely  mingled  with  those 
of  Josiah,  now  bereft  of  his  companion.  Thus 
they  lightened  each  other's  burden  as  they  visited 
the  old  burial-ground  together.  The  widow,  for 
such  she  was  regarded,  felt  her  lot  to  be  the  most 
severe.  She  had  not  even  the  melancholy  pleas- 
ure of  the  freshly  made  mound  to  remind  her  of 
the  silent  tenant ;  and  when  the  sorrowful  husband 
performed  the  last  duty  by  adding  one  more  to 
the  many  gravestones  in  the  yard,  the  widow 
wished  her  means  would  admit  of  her  testifying  of 
her  love  for  Ichabod  in  the  same  manner. 

The  months  wore  slowly  away,  and  sorrow  was 
depicted  on  two  faces  ;  each  saw  the  traces  of  the 
other's  burden,  and  tried  to  lighten  it.  In  promis- 
ing to  be  a  father  to  the  little  boy,  Josiah  Rich- 
ardson was   at  length  accepted  as  a  husband  in 


A   ROMANCE   OF   WAR  333 

place  of  the  supposed  dead.  The  mother  refused 
to  have  the  name  of  Ichabod  changed  to  that  of 
Josiah.  She  regarded  the  name  as  the  one  strong 
tie  that  bound  the  memory  of  the  past  to  that  of 
the  present.  The  name  was  much  to  her ;  while 
the  growing  boy,  so  like  his  lamented  father,  was  a 
comfort  beyond  expression.  Josiah  and  Sarah 
Richardson  lived  happily  together.  The  anticipa- 
tion of  ultimate  freedom  from  the  oppressive  yoke 
of  George  III.  at  length  resulted  in  the  reality, 
and  they  began  to  plan  for  more  luxuriant  sur- 
roundings, as  the  people  in  general  did  when  re- 
lieved from  the  burden  of  a  long  and  distress- 
ing war.  Happily  the  declaration  of  peace  was 
as  far-reaching  in  its  effects  as  that  of  war  had 
been. 

Could  Sarah  Richardson  in  her  anxiety  have 
seen  a  journal  later  displayed  by  a  Lexington  man, 
she  would  have  seen  in  a  roll  of  prisoners  com- 
mitted to  Forton  jail  the  name  of  her  husband, 
and  also  that  of  the  prizemaster,  Mr.  Hammon. 
Against  some  names  she  would  have  read  "  Run," 
while  against  others  she  would  have  seen  the 
word  "  Dead."  Short  but  expressive  were  the 
entries  ;  yet  in  the  former  instances  there  was 
left  an  occasion  for  hope,  while  in  the  latter  all 
hope  was  abandoned. 

It  would  be  useless  to  try  to  decide  whether 
Ichabod  or  Sarah  was  the  greater  sufferer.  He 
skulked  about  from  place  to  place  ;  to  be  sure,  pro- 


334  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

tected  while  within  the  bounds  of  France ;  but  it 
was  not  home  to  him,  and  he  was  but  a  hopeless 
wanderer,  with  not  even  the  little  bundle  in  his 
possession  that  had  been  wrapped  together  by 
loving  hands.  When  in  this  forlorn  state,  the 
news  of  the  declaration  of  peace  reached  him, 
and  he  lost  no  time  in  taking  ship  for  America, 
accepting  the  most  menial  position,  if  thereby  he 
could  again  see  his  native  land.  This  wish  was 
gratified,  and  Ichabod  Richardson  made  haste  to 
the  town  which  he  had  left  seven  years  before. 
He  detected  change  on  every  side.  The  barracks 
of  the  enemy  had  been  removed  from  Boston,  and 
the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  floating  where  before 
the  British  Lion  had  been  displayed. 

Ichabod's  inquiry  for  Sarah  Richardson  was 
as  promptly  answered  as  it  was  made.  He  saw 
faces  that  were  still  familiar  to  him,  but  received 
no  recognizing  smile  in  return.  As  he  passed 
through  the  narrow  roads  of  the  town,  he  revolved 
in  his  mind  what  he  would  say  when  he  met  his 
faithful  wife ;  he  tried  to  make  up  his  mind  how 
the  little  boy  of  five  years,  now  a  lad  of  twelve, 
would  look.  Occupied  with  such  thoughts,  he 
reached  the  house,  stepped  up,  and  pulled  the 
familiar  latch-string.  The  door  swung  open.  The 
changes  that  seven  years  had  brought  to  his  once 
manly  form  were  as  apparent  in  those  he  left  at 
home.  Anxiety  and  distress  had  made  deep  fur- 
rows in  the  smooth  brow,  while  the  flush  of  the 


A   ROMANCE   OF   WAR  335 

cheeks  on  which  Ichabod  pressed  a  farewell  kiss 
had  faded  from  sight. 

Seven  years  had  changed  the  prattling,  inno- 
cent child  to  a  thoughtful  youth,  in  whom  was  a 
striking  resemblance  of  the  long-lost  father. 

The  wife  was  Sarah  Richardson  still ;  but  when 
the  table  was  spread  for  the  thanksgiving  meal, 
four  plates  were  put  upon  it.  Ichabod  and  Josiah 
Richardson  exchanged  many  thoughtful  glances. 
All  refreshed  themselves,  and  arose  from  the  fam- 
ily board  to  decide  whose  wife  Sarah  should  be. 

In  law  the  second  marriage  was  void,  because 
neither  death  nor  divorce  had  entered  the  early 
home  ;  but  there  were  other  matters  to  be  con- 
sidered. Ichabod  left  some  property  when  he 
bade  his  family  farewell,  and  Josiah  had  added 
to  it.  Although  both  had  but  recently  been  war- 
riors, they  decided  that  the  difficulty  should  be 
amicably  adjusted.  Sarah  decided  in  favor  of 
Ichabod,  the  father  of  her  son.  They  called  in 
the  assistance  of  the  village  magistrate,  Josiah 
Johnson,  Jr.,  the  "  squire  "  of  the  town,  who  pre- 
pared a  legal  document,  to  which  the  two  husbands 
appended  their  names. 

The  paper  is  styled  "  Ichabod  Richardson  and 
Josiah  Richardson  —  Stipulation"  :  — 

"Whereas  Ichabod  Richardson  of  Woburn  in  the  County 
of  Middlesex,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  shop  joiner 
[carpenter],  about  six  or  seven  years  since,  (during  the  un- 
happy Difference  between  Great  Brittian  and  America),  the 


336  BENEATH  OLD  ROOF  TREES 

Colonies  Inlisted  him  on  board  one  of  the  American  Priva- 
teers, leaving  behind  his  wife  Sarah,  by  which,  he  had  Issue, 
one  son,  in  which  unlucky  voyage  he  was  taken  Prisoner  by 
the  Brittians  and  was  carried  to  Great  Brittian  and  from 
thence  to  the  East  Indies,  which  occasioned  him  six  or  seven 
years  absence ;  without  any  the  least  notice  to  his  said  wife 
Sarah,  of  his  being  in  the  land  of  the  living.  During  this  un- 
certain interim  the  said  Sarah  in  a  desolate  state,  Josiah 
Richardson  of  said  Woburn,  blacksmith,  being  left  a  wid- 
ower, married  the  said  Sarah.  But  so  it  happens  at  this  pres- 
ent time,  the  said  Ichabod  is  now  returned  and  puts  in  his 
claim  to  his  said  wife  Sarah,  which  by  reason  of  their  said 
son  she  preferres  to  live  with  in  the  future  .  .  .  and  they  the 
said  Ichabod  and  Josiah,  for  the  amicable  settlement  of  the 
unhappy  affair  between  them,  stipulate  as  follows,  namely  — 
the  said  Ichabod  on  his  part,  on  the  penalty  of  one  hundred 
pounds,  lawful  money,  stipulates  with  the  said  Josiah,  his 
heirs  and  executors  to  pay  discharge,  and  Indemnify  him  and 
them  from  all  demands  of  what  nature  so  ever  against  the 
said  Sarah,  at  and  until  the  time  of  her  intermarriage  with 
the  said  Josiah,  and  from  all  for  the  future,  and  that  he  the 
said  Josiah  shall  Retain  all  the  goods  by  him,  the  said  Josiah 
and  the  said  Sarah,  Procured  since  the  time  of  their  inter- 
marriage, during  life.  And  he  the  said  Josiah,  on  his  part 
stipulates  with  the  said  Ichabod,  his  heirs  and  executors,  on 
the  penalty  of  one  hundred  pounds  like  money,  to  discharge 
the  said  Sarah  from  the  obligations  of  such  marriage,  and  to 
Restore  all  the  goods  she  brought  with  her  at  that  time. 

"  In  confirmation  of  all  above  written,  they  have  here- 
unto interchangably  set  their  hands  and  seals,  this  fifteenth 
day  of  February,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  eighty  three. 

{Signed)  ICHABOD   RICHARDSON    (seal). 

JOSIAH   RICHARDSON    (seal). 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  \ 
in  the  presence  of  • 

WILLIAM    FOX, 
JOSIAH  JOHNSON." 


GENERAL    GAGE'S  EXCURSION  337 

Note.  —  Ichabod  Richardson,  son  of  Asa,  was  born  in  Woburn, 
March  3,  1747;  married  Sarah  Wyman,  June  6,  1770;  had  Icha- 
bod, born  in  1771.  She  married  Josiah  Richardson  March  19, 
1782.  Ichabod  Richardson  died  in  Woburn,  Feb.  5,  1792.  Jo- 
siah Richardson  died  in  Woburn,  Nov.  12,  1801. 

[  From  George's  Cambridge  A  linafiack ;  or,   The  Essex  Calendar  for  the 
Year  of  our  Redemption,  1776.] 

Narrative  of  the  excursion  and  ravages  of  the  king's  troops,  under  the 
command  of  General  Gage,  on  the  19th  of  April.  1775  ;  taken  with  104 
depositions  to  support  the  truth  of  it,  and  published  by  order  of  Congress. 

This  concise  and  much-admired  narrative  is  said  to  be  drawn  up  by 

the  revered  and  patriotic  Mr.  G n,  of  the  third  parish  in  Roxbury, 

together  with  an  accurate  list  of  all  the  Provincials  who  were  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  in  the  action,  including  all  that  was  lost  on 
that  day ;  collected  by  authority  :  — 

"On  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  a  day  to  be  remem- 
bered by  all  Americans  of  the  present  generation, 
and  which  ought,  and  doubtless  will  be,  handed 
down  to  ages  yet  unborn,  in  which  the  troops  of 
Britain,  unprovoked,  shed  the  blood  of  sundry  loyal 
American  subjects  of  the  British  King  in  the  field 
of  Lexington.  Early  in  the  morning  of  said  day, 
a  detachment  of  the  forces,  under  the  command 
of  General  Gage,  stationed  at  Boston,  attacked 
a  small  party  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lexington,  and 
some  other  towns  adjacent,  the  detachment  con- 
sisting of  about  nine  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith.  The  inhabitants  of 
Lexington  and  the  other  towns  were  about  one 
hundred,  some  with  and  some  without  firearms, 
who  had  collected  upon  information  that  the  de- 
tachment had  secretly  marched  from  Boston  the 
preceding  night,  and  landed  on  Phips's  Farm  in 


338  BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 

Cambridge,  and  were  proceeding  on  their  way  with 
a  brisk  pace  towards  Concord  (as  the  inhabitants 
supposed),  to  take  or  destroy  a  quantity  of  stores 
deposited  there  for  the  use  of  the  colony  ;  sundry 
peaceable  inhabitants  having  the  same  night  been 
taken,  held  by  force,  and  otherwise  abused  on  the 
road,  by  some  officers  of  General  Gage's  army, 
which  caused  a  just  alarm  to  the  people,  and  a 
suspicion  that  some  fatal  design  was  immediately 
to  be  put  in  execution  against  them.  This  small 
party  of  the  inhabitants,  so  far  from  being  disposed 
to  commit  hostilities  on  the  troops  of  their  sover- 
eign, that  unless  attacked  were  determined  to  be 
peaceable  spectators  of  this  extraordinary  move- 
ment, immediately  on  the  approach  of  Colonel 
Smith  with  the  detachment  under  his  command 
they  dispersed.  But  the  detachment,  seeming  to 
thirst  for  blood,  wantonly  rushed  on,  and  first  be- 
gan the  hostile  scene  by  firing  on  this  small  party, 
in  which  they  killed  eight  men  on  the  spot,  and 
wounded  several  others,  before  any  guns  were  fired 
upon  the  troops  by  our  men.  Not  contented  with 
this  effusion  of  blood,  as  if  malice  occupied  their 
whole  soul,  they  continued  to  fire  until  all  this 
small  party  who  escaped  the  dismal  carnage  were 
out  of  the  reach  of  their  fire.  Colonel  Smith,  with 
the  detachment,  then  proceeded  to  Concord,  where 
a  part  of  this  detachment  again  made  the  first  fire 
upon  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Concord  and  the 
adjacent  towns,  who  were  collected   at  a  bridge 


GENERAL    GAGE'S  EXCURSION  339 

upon  this  just  alarm,  and  killed  two  of  them,  and 
wounded  several  others,  before  any  of  the  Provin- 
cials there  had  done  one  hostile  act.  Then  the 
Provincials  (roused  with  zeal  for  the  Liberties  of 
their  country,  finding  life  and  everything  dear  and 
valuable  at  stake)  assumed  their  native  valor,  and 
returned  the  fire,  and  the  engagement  on  both 
sides  began.  Soon  after  which  the  British  troops 
retreated  towards  Charlestown  (having  first  com- 
mitted violence  and  waste  on  public  and  private 
property),  and  on  their  retreat  were  joined  by 
another  detachment  of  General  Gage's  troops,  con- 
sisting of  about  a  thousand  men,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Earl  Percy,  who*  continued  the  retreat. 
The  engagement  lasted  through  the  day.  Many 
were  killed  and  wounded  on  each  side,  though  the 
loss  on  the  part  of  the  British  troops  far  exceeded 
that  of  the  Provincials.  The  devastation  com- 
mitted by  the  British  troops  on  their  retreat,  the 
whole  of  the  way  from  Concord  to  Charlestown,  is 
almost  beyond  description,  such  as  plundering  and 
burning  of  dwelling-houses  and  other  buildings, 
driving  into  the  street  women  in  child-bed,  killing 
old  men  in  their  houses  unarmed.  Such  scenes  of 
desolation  would  be  a  reproach  to  the  perpetra- 
tors, even  if  committed  by  the  most  barbarous 
nations,  how  much  more  when  done  by  Britons 
famed  for  humanity  and  tenderness.  And  all  this 
because  these  colonies  will  not  submit  to  the  iron 
yoke  of  arbitrary  power." 


340 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOF   TREES 


The  following  is  a  correct  list  of  those  Provin- 
cials who  were  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  in  the 
action  of  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  and  the  towns  to 
which  they  respectively  belonged  :  — 


BELONGING  TO   CAMBRIDGE   AND   MENOTOMY. 
KILLED. 
William  Marcy.  Jason  Russell. 

Moses  Richardson.  Jabez  Wyman. 


John  Hicks. 

Jason  Winship. 

WOUNDED. 

C 

.  Samuel  Whittemore. 

MISSING. 

Samuel  Frost. 

Seth  Russell. 

CHARLESTOWN. 

KILLED. 

James  Miller. 

C.  Barber's  son. 

WATERTOWN. 

KILLED. 

Joseph  Cooledge. 

SUDBURY. 

KILLED. 

D.  Josiah  Haynes. 

Asahel  Reed. 

WOUNDED. 

Joshua  Haynes. 

ACTON. 

KILLED. 

Isaac  Davis. 

James  Hayward. 

Abner  Hosmer. 

WOUNDED. 

Luther  Blanchard. 

Central  gage's  excursion 


341 


Asahel  Porter. 

George  Reed. 
Jacob  Bacon. 


Henry  Putnam. 


BEDFORD. 

KILLED. 

Jonathan  Willson. 
won  N  DEO. 
Job  Lane. 


WOBURN. 

KILLED. 


WOUNDED. 


Daniel  Thompson. 
Johnson. 


MEDFORD. 
KILLED. 

NEWTOWN. 

WOUNDED. 

Noah  Wiswell. 

LEXINGTON. 


William  Polly. 


KILLED. 


Jonas  Parker. 
Robert  Munroe. 
Samuel  Hadley. 
Jonathan  Harrington. 
Isaac  Muzzy. 

John  Robbins. 
Solomon  Pierce. 
John  Tidd. 
Joseph  Comee. 
Ebenezer  Munroe,  Jr. 


WOUNDED. 


Caleb  Harrington. 
John  Brown. 
Jedediah  Munroe. 
John  Raymond. 
Nathaniel  Wyman. 

Thomas  Winship. 
Nathaniel  Farmer. 
Prince  Estabrook. 
Jedediah  Munroe. 
Francis  Brown. 


BILLERICA. 

WOUNDED. 


John  Nichols. 


Timothy  Blanchard. 


342 


BENEATH  OLD   ROOE   TREES 


CHELMSFORD. 
WOUNDKI). 

D.  Aaron  Chamberlain.  C.  Oliver  Barron. 


C.  Charles  Miles. 
Nathan  Barrett. 
Abel  Prescott,  Jr. 


John  Bacon. 
Elisha  Mills. 
Amos  Mills. 


CONCORD. 

WOUNDED. 


Jonas  Brown. 
George  Minot. 


NEEDHAM. 
KILLED. 


Nathaniel  Chamberlain 
Jonathan  Parker. 


Eleazer  Kingsbury. 

FRAMINGHAM. 

WOUNDED. 

Daniel  Hemmenway. 

DEDHAM. 

KILLED. 

Elias  Haven. 

WOUNDED. 

Israel  Everett. 
STOW. 

WOUNDED. 

Daniel  Conant. 


Henry  Jacobs. 
Samuel  Cook. 
Ebenezer  Goldthwait. 
George  Southwick. 


DANVERS. 
KILLED. 


Tolman. 

ROXBURY. 

MISSING. 

Elijah  Seaver. 

BROOKLINE. 

KILLED. 
Isaac  Gardner. 

SALEM. 

KILLED. 

Benjamin  Pierce. 


Benjamin  Daland. 
Jotham  Webb. 
Perley  Putnam. 


GENBfaL  gage's  F.XcVRSrOA'  343 

WOUNDED. 
Nathan  Putnam.  Dennis  Wallace. 

MISSING. 

Joseph  Bell. 

BEVERLY. 

KILLED. 

Reuben  Kennison. 

WOUNDED. 

Nathaniel  Cleves.  William  Dodge. 

Samuel  Woodbury. 

LYNN. 
KILLED. 

Abednego  Ramsdell.  William  Flint. 

Daniel  Townsend.  Thomas  Hadley. 

WOUNDED. 
Joshua  Felt.  Timothy  Monroe. 

MISSING. 
Josiah  Breed. 
Total.  —  Killed,  49;   wounded,  39;   missing,  5  =  93. 


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